1-1     By:  Duncan                                           S.B. No. 1564
 1-2           (In the Senate - Filed March 9, 2001; March 14, 2001, read
 1-3     first time and referred to Committee on Intergovernmental
 1-4     Relations; April 19, 2001, reported favorably by the following
 1-5     vote:  Yeas 7, Nays 0; April 19, 2001, sent to printer.)
 1-6                            A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-7                                   AN ACT
 1-8     relating to the funding of emergency medical services by
 1-9     municipalities with a population of 5,000 or more in counties with
1-10     a population of less than 60,000.
1-11           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-12           SECTION 1.  Subtitle F, Title 2, Health and Safety Code, is
1-13     amended by adding Chapter 123 to read as follows:
1-14           CHAPTER 123.  FUNDING FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES BY
1-15                           CERTAIN MUNICIPALITIES
1-16           Sec. 123.001.  MUNICIPALITIES COVERED BY CHAPTER.  This
1-17     chapter applies only to a municipality that:
1-18                 (1)  has a population of 5,000 or more;
1-19                 (2)  provides services through full-time employees of
1-20     the emergency medical services department of the municipality's
1-21     fire department;
1-22                 (3)  is not within a district that otherwise provides
1-23     emergency medical services; and
1-24                 (4)  is within a county with a population of less than
1-25     60,000.
1-26           Sec. 123.002.  AUTHORITY TO ASSESS FEE FOR THE PROVISION OF
1-27     EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES.  (a)  The governing body of a
1-28     municipality subject to this chapter may levy or assess a fee by
1-29     ordinance in an amount not to exceed $2 per month to be paid by
1-30     persons to whom water, sewer, gas, or electrical services are
1-31     provided by the municipality.  The fee, if imposed, shall be
1-32     collected in the same manner as any other utility payment collected
1-33     by the municipality.
1-34           (b)  A fee imposed under this section must be enacted by
1-35     ordinance.
1-36           Sec. 123.003.  COLLECTION AND USE OF FUNDS.  Funds collected
1-37     by a municipality under this chapter must be accounted for in a
1-38     separate proprietary fund.  The funds collected may be used only
1-39     for the provision of emergency medical services within the
1-40     municipality or the county in which the municipality is located.
1-41           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.
1-42                                  * * * * *