By Bailey H.B. No. 607
77R3487 ATP-F
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the powers of an emergency services district.
1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-4 SECTION 1. Section 775.031(a), Health and Safety Code, is
1-5 amended to read as follows:
1-6 (a) A district is a political subdivision of the state. To
1-7 perform the functions of the district and to provide emergency
1-8 services, a district may:
1-9 (1) acquire, purchase, hold, lease, manage, occupy,
1-10 and sell real and personal property or an interest in property;
1-11 (2) enter into and perform necessary contracts;
1-12 (3) appoint and employ necessary officers, agents, and
1-13 employees;
1-14 (4) delegate payment of individual invoices, bills,
1-15 payroll, and other indebtedness to financial institutions or bonded
1-16 employees of the district;
1-17 (5) provide employment benefits to its employees,
1-18 including:
1-19 (A) health, life, and dental insurance;
1-20 (B) vacation and sick leave;
1-21 (C) retirement and savings plans; and
1-22 (D) educational assistance;
1-23 (6) provide for the direct deposit of its employees'
1-24 pay;
2-1 (7) sue and be sued;
2-2 (8) [(5)] impose and collect taxes as prescribed by
2-3 this chapter;
2-4 (9) [(6)] accept and receive donations;
2-5 (10) [(7)] lease, own, maintain, operate, and provide
2-6 emergency services vehicles and other necessary or proper
2-7 apparatus, instrumentalities, equipment, and machinery to provide
2-8 emergency services;
2-9 (11) [(8)] construct, lease, own, and maintain real
2-10 property, improvements, and fixtures necessary to house, repair,
2-11 and maintain emergency services vehicles and equipment;
2-12 (12) construct, lease, own, and maintain real
2-13 property, improvements, and fixtures necessary to provide for
2-14 personnel, employees, and offices, educational facilities, meeting
2-15 rooms, and other facilities required to provide and administer
2-16 emergency services;
2-17 (13) [(9)] contract with other entities, including
2-18 other districts or municipalities, to make emergency services
2-19 facilities and emergency services available to the district;
2-20 (14) [(10)] contract with other entities, including
2-21 other districts or municipalities, for reciprocal operation of
2-22 services and facilities if the contracting parties find that
2-23 reciprocal operation would be mutually beneficial and not
2-24 detrimental to the district;
2-25 (15) [(11)] borrow money; and
2-26 (16) [(12)] perform other acts necessary to carry out
2-27 the intent of this chapter.
3-1 SECTION 2. Section 775.085, Health and Safety Code, is
3-2 amended to read as follows:
3-3 Sec. 775.085. LOAN FOR PURCHASE OF REAL PROPERTY OR
3-4 EMERGENCY SERVICES EQUIPMENT. (a) The board, on the behalf of the
3-5 district, may borrow money and make other financial arrangements to
3-6 purchase real property to house, maintain, provide, and administer
3-7 emergency services and emergency services equipment or to purchase
3-8 emergency services equipment. The board may take out a loan or
3-9 make another financial arrangement under this section in the amount
3-10 and subject to a rate of interest or other conditions the board
3-11 considers advisable.
3-12 (b) To secure a loan under this section, the board may
3-13 pledge:
3-14 (1) tax revenues or funds on hand that are not
3-15 otherwise pledged to pay a debt of the district; or
3-16 (2) the real property or equipment acquired with the
3-17 borrowed money.
3-18 (c) If tax revenues are pledged to pay a loan, the loan must
3-19 mature not later than:
3-20 (1) the 20th anniversary of the date the loan is made
3-21 for real property; or
3-22 (2) the fifth anniversary of the date the loan is made
3-23 for emergency services equipment.
3-24 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.