87R7596 SMT-D
 
  By: Nichols S.B. No. 774
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the election of emergency services commissioners in
  certain emergency services districts.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Sections 775.0345(b-1), (d-1), (e), and (h-1),
  Health and Safety Code, are amended to read as follows:
         (b-1)  Notwithstanding Subsection (b), the governing body of
  a district described by Subsection (a)(2) [or (3)] is governed by a
  five-member board of emergency services commissioners elected from
  single-member districts. One director is elected from each
  single-member district. As soon as possible after the district is
  created, the commissioners court of the county in which the
  district is located shall divide the district into five numbered
  single-member districts.
         (d-1)  Notwithstanding Subsection (d), to be eligible to be a
  candidate for emergency services commissioner in a single-member
  district on an initial board in a district described by Subsection
  (a)(2) [or (3)], a person must be at least 18 years of age and a
  resident of that single-member district.
         (e)  A candidate for emergency services commissioner on an
  initial board must give the voter registrar of the county a sworn
  notice of the candidate's intention to run for office. The notice
  must state the person's name, age, and address and state that the
  person is serving notice of intent to run for emergency services
  commissioner. If the person intends to run for emergency services
  commissioner in a single-member district in a district described by
  Subsection (a)(2) [or (3)], the notice must also specify the
  single-member district the person seeks to represent. On receipt
  of the notice, the voter registrar of the county shall have the
  candidate's name placed on the ballot.
         (h-1)  Notwithstanding Subsection (h), the five initial
  emergency services commissioners elected from single-member
  districts in a district described by Subsection (a)(2) [or (3)]
  shall draw lots to determine which two commissioners serve terms
  that expire on December 31 of the second year following the year in
  which the election was held and which three commissioners serve
  terms that expire on December 31 of the fourth year following the
  year in which the election was held.
         SECTION 2.  (a) This Act does not prohibit a person who is
  serving as an emergency services commissioner on the effective date
  of this Act from running for election to the board of commissioners
  after the effective date of this Act if the person has the
  qualifications required for a member under Section 775.0345, Health
  and Safety Code.
         (b)  The terms of the emergency services commissioners
  serving on the effective date of this Act expire on the date a
  majority of the new emergency services commissioners elected under
  Subsection (c) of this section qualify to serve.
         (c)  The county judge of a county with an emergency services
  district to which Section 775.0345(a)(3), Health and Safety Code,
  applies on the effective date of this Act shall establish an
  election to elect new emergency services commissioners of that
  district in the manner provided by Section 775.0345, Health and
  Safety Code, as amended by this Act, for election of the initial
  commissioners as if the district had been created on the effective
  date of this Act.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.