83R10488 JXC-F

By: Coleman H.J.R. No. 148

A JOINT RESOLUTION

proposing a constitutional amendment to authorize the creation of emergency and disaster response districts; providing authority to impose a tax and issue bonds.

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Article III, Texas Constitution, is amended by adding Section 48-d to read as follows:

Sec. 48-d. (a) The following are declared to be public rights and duties, and the Legislature may pass laws as may be appropriate relating to:

(1) protection of the health and welfare of the citizens and residents of this State during natural disasters and other emergency situations;

(2) prevention of and protection from damage to or destruction of property in this State; and

(3) preservation and protection of natural resources in this State.

(b) There may be created within this State, or the State may be divided into, such number of emergency and disaster response districts as may be determined to be essential to the accomplishment of the purposes of this section. The emergency and disaster response districts shall be governmental agencies and bodies politic and corporate with such powers of government and with the authority to exercise such rights, privileges, and functions concerning the subject matter of this section as may be conferred by law.

(c) The Legislature shall authorize indebtedness necessary to provide improvements and the maintenance of those improvements necessary to the achievement of the purposes of this section. The indebtedness may be evidenced by bonds of the emergency and disaster response districts, to be issued as may be prescribed by law. The Legislature shall also authorize the imposition within the emergency and disaster response districts of taxes, equitably distributed, as may be necessary for the payment of interest and the creation of a sinking fund for the payment of bonds and for the maintenance of the districts and improvements. The indebtedness shall be a lien on the property assessed for the payment of the indebtedness. The Legislature may not authorize the issuance of any bonds or provide for any indebtedness against an emergency and disaster response district unless that proposition is submitted to the qualified voters of the district and adopted by the voters.

(d) A law creating an emergency and disaster response district may not be passed unless notice of the intention to introduce the bill setting forth the general substance of the contemplated law has been published at least 30 days and not more than 90 days prior to the introduction of the bill in a newspaper or newspapers having general circulation in the county or counties in which the district or any part of the district is or will be located, and by delivering a copy of the notice and the bill to the governor, who shall submit the notice and the bill to the Division of Emergency Management of the Department of Public Safety of the State of Texas or its successor. The Division or its successor shall file its recommendation as to the bill with the governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of the house of representatives not later than 30 days after the date the notice is received by the Division or its successor. The notice and copy of a bill shall also be given for the introduction of a bill amending a law creating or governing a particular emergency and disaster response district if the bill:

(1) adds additional land to the district;

(2) alters the taxing authority of the district;

(3) alters the authority of the district with respect to the issuance of bonds; or

(4) alters the qualifications or terms of office of the members of the governing body of the district.

(e) A law creating an emergency and disaster response district may not be passed unless, at the time notice of the intention to introduce a bill is published as provided in Subsection (d), a copy of the proposed bill is delivered to the commissioners court of each county in which the district or any part of the district is or will be located and to the governing body of each municipality in whose jurisdiction the district or any part of the district is or will be located. Each commissioners court and governing body may file its written consent or opposition to the creation of the proposed district with the governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of the house of representatives. Each special law creating an emergency and disaster response district shall comply with the provisions of the general laws then in effect relating to consent by political subdivisions to the creation of emergency and disaster response districts and to the inclusion of land in the district.

SECTION 2. This proposed constitutional amendment shall be submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 5, 2013. The ballot shall be printed to provide for voting for or against the proposition: "The constitutional amendment to authorize the creation of emergency and disaster response districts."