BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 1453

By: Zaffirini

Urban Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties explain that certain cities such as Rio Bravo and El Cenizo in Webb County have reported difficulty in providing necessary fire and emergency medical services for their residents due to the lack of resources to hire and pay the appropriate fire and emergency medical services personnel. In order to train and compensate such personnel, the parties note that such cities would benefit from the authority to establish a fire control, prevention, and emergency medical services district. S.B. 1453 seeks to address this issue.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

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

S.B. 1453 amends the Local Government Code to authorize the governing body of a municipality to propose the creation of a fire control, prevention, and emergency medical services district under the Fire Control, Prevention, and Emergency Medical Services District Act if the municipality is located in the extraterritorial jurisdiction of another municipality that has a population of 200,000 or more and both municipalities are located in a county with a population of less than 300,000 that is located on the international border.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2015.