BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center H.B. 2619
79R4493 KEG-D By: Hegar (Zaffirini)
AUTHOR'S/SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Emergency Service Districts (ESDs) are political subdivisions established by the voters of an area for the purpose of raising money through ad valorem and/or sales taxes. These districts have multiple purposes, most importantly to protect life through the provision of emergency rescue and ambulance service, and the protection of property from fire.
Currently, there is no program in the Office of Rural Community Affairs (ORCA) or any other state agency that is equipped to assist ESDs. This can create a problem because many people elected to serve on ESD boards have no specific knowledge of the roles, functions, and budgetary issues of their office.
H.B. 2619 requires ORCA to create a program that will provide rural communities with information, training, and technical assistance related to ESDs.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter C, Chapter 487, Government Code, by adding Section 487.060, as follows:
Sec. 487.060. EMERGENCY SERVICES DISTRICT PROGRAM. Requires the Office of Rural Community Affairs to establish a program for interested rural communities to provide certain information, training, and technical assistance regarding emergency service districts.
SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2005.