78R645 ATP-D

By:  Capelo                                                       H.B. No. 1928



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to annual reports filed with the Office of Rural Community 
Affairs by emergency services districts.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 775.083, Health and Safety Code, is 
amended to read as follows:
	Sec. 775.083.  ANNUAL REPORT.  (a)  On or before January 1 
of each year, a district shall file with the Office of Rural 
Community Affairs [secretary of state] an annual report that 
includes the following:
		(1)  the district's name;                                                     
		(2)  the name of each county in which the district is 
located;              
		(3)  the district's business address;                                         
		(4)  the name, mailing address, and term of office of 
each commissioner;    
		(5)  the name, mailing address, and term of office of 
the district's general manager, executive director, and fire chief;
		(6)  the name of each legal counsel or other consultant 
for the district;  and
		(7)  the district's annual budget and tax rate for the 
preceding fiscal year.
	(b)  The Office of Rural Community Affairs [secretary of 
state] may not charge a fee for filing the report.
	(c)  The Office of Rural Community Affairs shall develop and 
maintain an Internet-based system that enables:
		(1)  a district to securely file the report and update 
the district's information; and
		(2)  the public to view, in a searchable format, the 
reports filed by districts under this section.
	(d)  If the information included in a district's annual 
report changes, the district shall update the district's 
information using the Internet-based system before the end of the 
calendar quarter in which the district's information changes.
	SECTION 2.  Subchapter E, Chapter 776, Health and Safety 
Code, is amended by adding Section 776.083 to read as follows:
	Sec. 776.083.  ANNUAL REPORT.  (a)  On or before January 1 
of each year, a district shall file with the Office of Rural 
Community Affairs an annual report that includes the following:
		(1)  the district's name;                                              
		(2)  the name of each county in which the district is 
located;       
		(3)  the district's business address;                                  
		(4)  the name, mailing address, and term of office of 
each commissioner;
		(5)  the name, mailing address, and term of office of 
the district's general manager, executive director, and fire chief;
		(6)  the name of each legal counsel or other consultant 
for the district; and
		(7)  the district's annual budget and tax rate for the 
preceding fiscal year.
	(b)  The Office of Rural Community Affairs may not charge a 
fee for filing the report.
	(c)  The Office of Rural Community Affairs shall develop and 
maintain an Internet-based system that enables:
		(1)  a district to securely file the report and update 
the district's information; and
		(2)  the public to view, in a searchable format, the 
reports filed by districts under this section.
	(d)  If the information included in a district's annual 
report changes, the district shall update the district's 
information using the Internet-based system before the end of the 
calendar quarter in which the district's information changes.
	SECTION 3.  The Office of Rural Community Affairs shall 
develop an Internet-based system as required by Sections 775.083(c) 
and 776.083(c), Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act, before 
January 1, 2004.
	SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2003.