By:  Lindsay                                                      S.B. No. 1621
	(In the Senate - Filed March 11, 2005; March 23, 2005, read 
first time and referred to Committee on Intergovernmental 
Relations; April 20, 2005, reported favorably by the following 
vote:  Yeas 5, Nays 0; April 20, 2005, sent to printer.)


A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT


relating to the tax rate for emergency services districts located 
in certain populous counties.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Subsection (a), Section 775.018, Health and 
Safety Code, is amended to read as follows:
	(a)  On [Except as provided by Subsection (b), on] the 
granting of a petition, the commissioners court shall order an 
election to confirm the district's creation and authorize the 
imposition of a tax not to exceed the rate allowed by Section 48-e, 
Article III, Texas Constitution.  Any conditions negotiated under 
Section 775.014(h) must be included on the ballot.
	SECTION 2.  Subsection (b), Section 775.018, Section 
775.0741, and Subsection (e), Section 775.0745, Health and Safety 
Code, are repealed.
	SECTION 3.  Section 775.018, as amended by this Act, applies 
only to a petition granted on or after the effective date of this 
Act.  A petition granted before the effective date of this Act is 
governed by the law in effect when the petition was granted, and the 
former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
	SECTION 4.  The changes in law made by this Act do not affect 
taxes imposed before the effective date of this Act, and the law in 
effect before the effective date of this Act is continued in effect 
for purposes of the liability for and collection of those taxes.
	SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2005.                           



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