SRC-JLB S.J.R. 29 78(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.J.R. 29
78R644 ATP-DBy: Madla
Intergovernmental Relations
3/5/2003
As Filed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

A study conducted by the Senate Committee on Intergovernmental Relations
revealed certain difficulties that emergency service districts (ESDs)
encounter in trying to provide fire prevention and emergency medical
services at the current maximum tax rate of ten cents.  Approximately 47
percent of ESDs have reached this maximum tax rate, in part because of
post-September 11, 2001, training, and urban counties report even greater
difficulty in providing services at the current tax rate.  In addition,
rural districts do not have local economies that allow for improvement of
services without additional funding avenues.  As proposed, S.J.R. 29
increases the maximum tax rate for ESDs to twenty cents on the one hundred
dollars property valuation, if approved by qualified local voters.  

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to
a state officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 48-e, Article III, Texas Constitution, as
follows: 

Sec.  48-e.  Authorizes laws to be enacted to provide for the
establishment and creation of special districts to provide emergency and
fire prevention services and to authorize the commissioners courts of
participating counties to levy a tax on the ad valorem property situated
in said districts not to exceed 20, rather than ten, cents on the one
hundred dollars valuation for the support thereof; provided that no tax
shall be levied in support of said districts until approved by a vote of
the qualified voters residing therein, and no tax may be increased except
as provided by general law.  Authorizes such a district to provide
emergency medical services, emergency ambulance services, rural fire
prevention and control services, or other emergency services authorized by
the Legislature. 

SECTION 2.  Requires this proposed constitutional amendment to be
submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 4, 2003.
Requires the ballot to be printed to permit voting for or against the
proposition:  "The constitutional amendment to increase the maximum tax
rate that may be imposed on property in an emergency services district if
approved by the voters of the district."