BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center |
C.S.S.B. 517 |
85R24254 JXC-F |
By: Garcia |
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Intergovernmental Relations |
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4/24/2017 |
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Committee Report (Substituted) |
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Emergency services districts (ESD) provide necessary fire and EMS services to unincorporated areas of the state. There are 30 ESDs within Harris County alone and approximately 250 statewide. ESDs were created by the legislature in 1987 by S.B. 669 and 10 years later, in 1997, ESD commissioners were permitted compensation in the amount of $50 per day, up to a maximum of $3,000 per year. There has been no increase in fees in the past 20 years even though demand for, and responsibilities of, ESD commissioners have increased significantly over the past 20 years due to population growth in the unincorporated areas of many of the state's most populous counties. In comparison, water sistrict directors have received compensation increases since 1995 from $50 per day to $150 per day currently. It has, at times, been difficult to find qualified persons to fill the ESD commissioner positions and modernizing and standardizing current compensation restrictions to bring ESDs on par with water districts would help provide a solution to this problem.
S.B. 517:
� Entitles an emergency services commissioner of a district to receive compensation of not more than $150 per day for each day the commissioner actually spends performing the duties of a commissioner.
� Requires compensation not to exceed $7,200 per year.
� Compensation may be reimbursed for reasonable and necessary expenses incurred in performing official duties.
� C.S.S.B. 517 makes this provision applicable to all ESDs and not just Harris County as originally filed.
Supporters Include: Harris County Emergency Services District No. 6, Harris County Emergency Services District No. 12, and Harris County Emergency Services District No. 50
C.S.S.B. 517 amends current law relating to the compensation provided to the governing body of certain special districts.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 775.038, Health and Safety Code, by adding Subsection (a-1), to provide that a commissioner of an emergency services district is entitled to receive compensation in the same manner and amount as are provided by Section 49.060 (Fees of Office; Reimbursement), Water Code.
SECTION 2. Repealers: Sections 775.038(a) (relating to the compensation of an emergency services commissioner), (b) (relating to an emergency services commissioner's election to receive a certain per diem compensation), and (c) (relating to an emergency services commissioner's requirement to file a certain statement with the district), Health and Safety Code.
SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 2017.