Amend SJR 43 by striking all below the resolving clause and 
substituting the following:
	SECTION 1.  Section 48-e, Article III, Texas Constitution, 
is amended to read as follows:
	Sec. 48-e.  EMERGENCY SERVICES DISTRICTS.  (a)  Laws may be 
enacted to provide for the establishment and creation of special 
districts to provide emergency services and to authorize the 
commissioners courts of participating counties to levy a tax on the 
ad valorem property situated in said districts at a rate not to 
exceed 10 cents [Ten Cents (10¢)] on the $100 [One Hundred Dollars 
($100.00)] valuation for the operating and capital support thereof 
and, subject to Subsections (b) and (c) of this section, at a rate 
not to exceed five cents on the $100 valuation for the construction 
of fire stations and other facilities used to provide emergency 
services or the acquisition of land, equipment, or apparatus.  No [; 
provided that no] tax shall be levied in support of said districts 
until approved by a vote of the qualified voters residing therein.  
Such a district may provide emergency medical services, emergency 
ambulance services, rural fire prevention and control services, or 
other emergency services authorized by the Legislature.
	(b)  The tax described by Subsection (a) of this section for 
the exclusive purposes of construction of fire stations and other 
facilities used to provide emergency services or the acquisition of 
land, equipment, or apparatus may be levied only for a district that 
is authorized to levy a tax on ad valorem property at the maximum 
rate provided by Subsection (a) of this section of 10 cents on the 
$100 valuation for any purpose and that has complied with audit 
requirements and adopted a capital improvements plan as provided by 
law.
	(c)  A district that conducts an election to allow the voters 
of the district to approve a tax exclusively for the purposes of 
construction of fire stations and other facilities used to provide 
emergency services or the acquisition of land, equipment, or 
apparatus may not assess the tax described by this subsection at a 
rate greater than three cents on the $100 valuation or the rate 
approved by the voters, whichever is less, earlier than two years 
after the date of approval.  Thereafter, the district may assess the 
tax at the rate approved by the voters, if greater than three cents 
on the $100 valuation, or may conduct a subsequent election, 
subject to the requirements provided by law for the first election,  
to approve the tax at a rate not to exceed five cents on the $100 
valuation. The Legislature by law may provide for other 
circumstances and limit the timing and frequency of elections held 
under this section.
	SECTION 2.  This proposed constitutional amendment shall be 
submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 3, 2009.  
The ballot shall be printed to permit voting for or against the 
proposition:  "The constitutional amendment to authorize the voters 
of certain emergency services districts to approve by election, 
after an audit and adoption of a capital improvements plan, an ad 
valorem tax at a rate not to exceed five cents for the construction 
or acquisition of fire stations, equipment, and other property."