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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the adoption and amendment of an annual budget by |
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certain emergency services districts. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter E, Chapter 775, Health and Safety |
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Code, is amended by adding Section 775.079 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 775.079. ADOPTION AND AMENDMENT OF ANNUAL BUDGET IN |
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CERTAIN DISTRICTS. (a) This section applies only to a district |
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located wholly in a county with a population of more than three |
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million. |
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(b) The board shall prepare and adopt the district's annual |
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budget in the manner provided by this section. |
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(c) The board, after notice, shall hold an open meeting to |
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consider the proposed budget for the following fiscal year. |
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Adoption of the budget may occur at the same meeting at which the |
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board takes final action to set the tax rate if the board complies |
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with Section 775.074(d-1). |
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(d) At least 72 hours before holding a meeting to adopt a |
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proposed budget for the following fiscal year, the board shall post |
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the proposed budget on the district's Internet website in the same |
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location on the website that a proposed tax rate to be adopted is |
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posted. |
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(e) After the board adopts the budget, the board may not |
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amend the budget except as provided by Subsections (f) and (g). |
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(f) The board, after notice, may amend the budget after its |
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initial adoption only at an open meeting. The board shall: |
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(1) not later than 72 hours before the meeting, post |
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the proposed amendment on the district's Internet website in the |
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same location on the website that a proposed tax rate to be adopted |
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is posted; and |
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(2) include in the notice of the meeting: |
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(A) the following statement: "The Board of the |
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(name of county) Emergency Services District No. (district number) |
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will consider an amendment to the district's adopted budget. The |
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public is encouraged to review the proposed amendment to the budget |
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posted on the district's website and to attend the meeting to offer |
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comments regarding the proposed amendment. (district Internet |
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website address)"; and |
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(B) the following agenda items: |
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(i) "Public comment on the proposed |
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amendment to the budget"; and |
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(ii) "Action to adopt or reject the |
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proposed amendment to the budget". |
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(g) After allowing comments from the public regarding the |
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proposed amendment, the board may amend the budget only if three or |
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more members of the board vote in favor of adopting the proposed |
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amendment. |
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(h) The board shall give notice of a meeting held under this |
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section in the manner provided by Chapter 551, Government Code, and |
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this section. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |