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A JOINT RESOLUTION
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proposing a constitutional amendment to authorize the creation of |
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emergency response districts; providing authority to impose a tax |
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and issue bonds. |
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BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Article III, Texas Constitution, is amended by |
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adding Section 48-d to read as follows: |
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Sec. 48-d. (a) The following are declared to be public |
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rights and duties, and the Legislature may pass laws as may be |
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appropriate relating to: |
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(1) protection of the health and welfare of the |
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citizens and residents of this State during natural disasters and |
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other emergency situations; |
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(2) prevention of and protection from damage to or |
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destruction of property in this State; and |
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(3) preservation and protection of natural resources |
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in this State. |
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(b) There may be created within this State, or the State may |
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be divided into, such number of emergency response districts as may |
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be determined to be essential to the accomplishment of the purposes |
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of this section. The emergency response districts shall be |
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governmental agencies and bodies politic and corporate with such |
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powers of government and with the authority to exercise such |
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rights, privileges, and functions concerning the subject matter of |
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this section as may be conferred by law. |
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(c) The Legislature shall authorize indebtedness necessary |
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to provide improvements and the maintenance of those improvements |
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necessary to the achievement of the purposes of this section. The |
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indebtedness may be evidenced by bonds or other obligations of the |
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emergency response districts, to be issued as may be prescribed by |
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law. The Legislature shall also authorize the imposition within |
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the emergency response districts of taxes, equitably distributed, |
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as may be necessary for the payment of interest and the creation of |
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a sinking fund for the payment of bonds or other obligations and for |
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the maintenance of the districts and improvements. The indebtedness |
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shall be a lien on the property assessed for the payment of the |
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indebtedness. The Legislature may not authorize the imposition of |
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taxes for maintenance and operation of an emergency response |
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district, authorize the issuance of any bonds by a district, or |
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provide for any indebtedness against a district unless that |
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proposition is submitted to the qualified voters of the district |
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and adopted by the voters. |
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(d) A law creating an emergency response district may not be |
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passed unless notice of the intention to introduce the bill setting |
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forth the general substance of the contemplated law has been |
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published at least 30 days and not more than 90 days prior to the |
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introduction of the bill in a newspaper or newspapers having |
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general circulation in the county or counties in which the district |
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or any part of the district is or will be located, and by delivering |
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a copy of the notice and the bill to the governor, who shall submit |
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the notice and the bill to the Division of Emergency Management of |
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the Department of Public Safety of the State of Texas or its |
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successor. The Division or its successor shall file its |
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recommendation as to the bill with the governor, lieutenant |
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governor, and speaker of the house of representatives not later |
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than 30 days after the date the notice is received by the Division |
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or its successor. The notice and copy of a bill shall also be given |
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for the introduction of a bill amending a law creating or governing |
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a particular emergency response district if the bill: |
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(1) adds additional land to the district; |
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(2) alters the taxing authority of the district; |
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(3) alters the authority of the district with respect |
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to the issuance of bonds; or |
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(4) alters the qualifications or terms of office of |
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the members of the governing body of the district. |
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(e) A law creating an emergency response district may not be |
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passed unless, at the time notice of the intention to introduce a |
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bill is published as provided in Subsection (d), a copy of the |
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proposed bill is delivered to the commissioners court of each |
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county in which the district or any part of the district is or will |
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be located and to the governing body of each municipality in whose |
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jurisdiction the district or any part of the district is or will be |
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located. Each commissioners court and governing body may file its |
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written consent or opposition to the creation of the proposed |
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district with the governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of the |
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house of representatives. Each special law creating an emergency |
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response district shall comply with the provisions of the general |
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laws then in effect relating to consent by political subdivisions |
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to the creation of emergency response districts and to the |
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inclusion of land in the district. |
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SECTION 2. This proposed constitutional amendment shall be |
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submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 5, 2013. |
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The ballot shall be printed to provide for voting for or against the |
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proposition: "The constitutional amendment to authorize the |
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creation of emergency response districts." |