By:  Lindsay, Janek                                               S.B. No. 1360


A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the creation of trauma and emergency services revenue 
districts; authorizing local-option taxes subject to voter 
approval.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  The Health and Safety Code is amended by adding 
new Chapter 780 as follows:
		CHAPTER 780.  TRAUMA AND EMERGENCY SERVICES REVENUE 
DISTRICTS.       
		Sec. 780.001.  CREATION.  One or more counties, acting 
by order adopted by their respective commissioners courts, may 
create a trauma and emergency services revenue district under this 
chapter to provide for the support of a regional trauma and 
emergency services system.
		Sec. 780.101.  GOVERNANCE.  The governing board of the 
district shall be composed of appointees made by the commissioners 
courts of the counties composing the district.
		Sec. 780.101.  DISSOLUTION.  The board may make a 
petition to dissolve the district.  The petition shall be approved 
by the voters of the counties composing the district.
		Sec. 780.201.  REMOVAL FROM DISTRICT.  A county, by 
approval of the voters located in the county, may withdraw from the 
district.
		Sec. 780.301.  POWERS AND DUTIES.  The board shall be 
given generally established powers and duties to accomplish the 
mission of the district.
		Sec. 780.401.  TAX AUTHORIZED.  (a)  A district, with 
voter approval, may impose one or more of the following:
			(1)  a tax on cigarettes;                                             
			(2)  a tax on alcoholic beverages consumed on or 
off premise;       
			(3)  a sales tax not to exceed one-eighth of a 
penny.               
	(b)  A district may impose a tax only if it has been approved 
by voters in the counties composing the district.
		Sec. 780.501.  TRAUMA AND EMERGENCY SERVICES FUND.  The 
governing board shall establish by resolution a fund known as the 
regional trauma and emergency services fund.  The board shall 
deposit all proceeds from any tax the board, with voter approval, 
imposes.
		Sec. 780.601.  DISTRIBUTION OF MONIES IN THE TRAUMA AND 
EMERGENCY SERVICES FUND.  The board, or its designee, shall 
distribute monies in the trauma and emergency services fund for the 
purposes of supporting a regional trauma and emergency services 
system.
	SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives 
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as 
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this 
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this 
Act takes effect September 1, 2003.