S.J.R. 45 78(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


S.J.R. 45
By: Madla
County Affairs
Committee Report (Unamended)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 
Currently, there are two types of special districts which provide services
to the residents within the districts' services boundaries: rural fire
prevention districts and emergency services districts.  This past interim,
the Senate Committee on Intergovernmental Relations studied these
districts.  Research revealed that while the districts provide similar
services, their ability to fund the districts' operations are very
different.  The enabling legislation, S.B.1021, provides for the
conversion of the remaining rural fire prevention districts to emergency
services districts.  As proposed, S.J.R. 45 proposes a constitutional
amendment to repeal the Legislature's authority of to provide for the
creation of rural fire prevention districts.  

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any
additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or
institution. 

ANALYSIS
SECTION 1.  Repealer:  Section 48-d, Article III, Texas Constitution
(Rural Fire Prevention Districts).  
 SECTION 2.  Requires this proposed constitutional amendment to be
submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 4, 2003, only
if the 78th Legislature, at its regular session, enacts a bill relating to
the conversion of all rural fire prevention districts to emergency
services districts and that bill becomes law. Requires the ballot to be
printed to permit voting for or against the proposition: "The
constitutional amendment to repeal the authority of the legislature to
provide for the creation of rural fire prevention districts."  Provides
that if such a bill does not become law, this proposed constitutional
amendment has no effect. 

FOR ELECTION
Requires this proposed constitutional amendment to be submitted to the
voters at an election to be held November 4, 2003, only if the 78th
Legislature, at its regular session, enacts a bill relating to the
conversion of all rural fire prevention districts to emergency services
districts and that bill becomes law