By: Alvarado S.B. No. 1579
 
  (Bohac)
 
   
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the creation of certain emergency services districts.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 775, Health and Safety
  Code, is amended by adding Section 775.0206 to read as follows:
         Sec. 775.0206.  SEPARATION OF DISTRICT SERVICES;
  ALTERNATIVE CREATION PROCEDURE.  (a)  This section applies only to
  a district located in a county with a population of more than 3.3
  million.
         (b)  Notwithstanding the procedures required by this
  subchapter, the board of a district may create another district
  under this section if:
               (1)  the board determines that the creation would
  enable the services currently provided by the creating district to
  be provided in a more economical and efficient manner by the
  creating district and the other district; and
               (2)  the boundaries of the other district are identical
  to the boundaries of the creating district.
         (c)  To create the other district, the board of the creating
  district must adopt an order creating the other district that:
               (1)  names the other district and, if considered
  reasonable by the board of the creating district, renames the
  creating district; and
               (2)  describes the services to be provided by the
  creating district and the other district, including:
                     (A)  a statement that specifies the services each
  district will provide; and
                     (B)  the proposed date on which the creating
  district will cease to provide a service and the other district will
  begin to provide that service.
         (d)  The order may not provide for the creating district and
  the other district to provide the same service.
         (e)  The board of the creating district must hold an election
  under Section 775.018 to confirm the other district's creation and
  authorize the imposition of a tax by the other district.  The
  creation of the other district is confirmed only if a majority of
  voters voting in the election approve the creation of the other
  district and the imposition of the tax by the other district.
         (f)  Subject to Section 4.003, Election Code, the notice of
  the election to separate district services shall be given in the
  same manner as the notice of a petition hearing under Section
  775.015.
         (g)  An election to create a district under this section must
  be held on a uniform election date as described by Section
  775.018(e).
         (h)  Except as provided by Subsection (i), the board of the
  creating district shall appoint the initial board of the other
  district. The appointed commissioners serve until December 31 of
  the year the other district is created. On the expiration of the
  terms of the initial commissioners, the commissioners court or
  commissioners courts shall appoint commissioners for a full term
  under Section 775.034 or 775.0341, as applicable.
         (i)  If Section 775.0345 or 775.035 applies to a district
  created under this section, the board of the creating district
  shall appoint the initial board of the other district. The
  appointed commissioners serve until the next election date of the
  commissioners of the creating district. The board of the creating
  district shall hold an election for both the board of the creating
  district and the board of the other district under Section 775.0345
  or 775.035, as applicable. The five commissioner positions on each
  board shall be filled at the election held by the creating district.
  For each board, the three elected commissioners receiving the most
  votes serve four-year terms and the two remaining elected
  commissioners serve two-year terms. After the initial election,
  each district shall hold separately an election on the dates and in
  the manner described by Section 775.0345 or 775.035, as applicable.
         (j)  To promote the economical and efficient delivery of
  services provided by a creating district and a district created
  under this section, the creating district may convey assets and
  transfer indebtedness, other than bonded indebtedness, to the other
  district.
         (k)  If a creating district has bonded indebtedness at the
  time the district's board creates a district under this section, a
  district created under this section shall pay to the creating
  district annually an amount equal to one-half of the amount
  required to service the bonded indebtedness in that year.
         (l)  Overlapping districts resulting from the creation of a
  district under this section shall comply with Section 775.020 or
  775.0205, as applicable.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.