BILL ANALYSIS
By: Madla
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
An emergency services district (ESD) is a special district, established under Article III, Section 48-e, Texas Constitution, and Chapter 775, Health and Safety Code, to provide health and safety related services to persons and property within its boundaries.
As proposed, S.B. 1435 sets forth provisions relating to emergency service districts amending the sequential numbering of districts converted from rural fire prevention districts (RFDs).
This is a clean-up bill. When the rural fire districts were converted to ESDs during the 78th Legislative Session, it created numbering issues, especially in Harris County where there are a large number of districts. That legislation required converted ESDs to take the next consecutive number. In Harris County, where there are county fire zones, taking a consecutive number would have created confusion. For example, RFD 48 ("Fire Zone 48") was converted into ESD 48, because that district existed and covered fire zone 48. This bill will essentially recognize that fact and allow non-consecutive numbering.
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. Amends Section 775.026(b), Health and Safety Code, to specify that the number that is part of the name of a district converted under this subsection is "an appropriate" number, rather than "the proper consecutive" number. Specifies that the purpose of the numbering is to distinguish one district from another district.
SECTION 2. Effective date
EFFECTIVE DATE
September 1, 2005