Title HS, Health and Safety Code

Sec. 774.004. MUNICIPAL POLICE OFFICER RESPONSE ACCOMPANYING MUNICIPAL AMBULANCE RESPONSE OUTSIDE MUNICIPALITY. (a) This section applies to an agreement between two municipalities under Section 774.001(b) or between a county and a municipality under Section 774.001(b) or 774.003.…

Sec. 775.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: (1) "Board" means the board of emergency services commissioners. (2) "District" means an emergency services district created under this chapter. Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 678, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989.

Sec. 775.002. LIBERAL CONSTRUCTION. This chapter and a proceeding under this chapter shall be liberally construed to achieve the purposes of this chapter. Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 678, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989.

Sec. 775.003. AUTHORIZATION. An emergency services district may be organized as provided by Article III, Section 48-e, of the Texas Constitution, as proposed by S.J.R. No. 27, Acts of the 70th Legislature, Regular Session, 1987, and adopted by the voters at an election held Novem…

Sec. 775.011. PETITION FOR CREATION OF DISTRICT LOCATED WHOLLY IN ONE COUNTY. (a) Before a district located wholly in one county may be created, the county judge of that county must receive a petition signed by at least 100 qualified voters who own taxable real property in the pr…

Sec. 775.012. PETITION FOR CREATION OF DISTRICT LOCATED IN MORE THAN ONE COUNTY. (a) Before a district that contains territory located in more than one county may be created, the county judge of each county in which the proposed district will be located must receive a petition si…

Sec. 775.013. CONTENTS OF PETITION. (a) The petition prescribed by Section 775.011 or 775.012 must show: (1) that the district is to be created and is to operate under Article III, Section 48-e, Texas Constitution, and Chapter 775; (2) the name of the proposed district; (3) the p…

Sec. 775.014. CREATION OF DISTRICT THAT INCLUDES MUNICIPAL TERRITORY. (a) Before a district may be created that contains territory in a municipality's limits or extraterritorial jurisdiction, a written request to be included in the district must be presented to the municipality's…

Sec. 775.015. FILING OF PETITION AND NOTICE OF HEARING. (a) If the petition is in proper form, the county judge may receive the petition and shall file the petition with the county clerk. (b) At the next regular or special session of the commissioners court held after the petitio…

Sec. 775.016. HEARING. (a) At the time and place set for the hearing or at a later date then set, the commissioners court shall consider the petition and each issue relating to creation of the district. (b) Any interested person may appear before the commissioners court in person…

Sec. 775.017. PETITION APPROVAL. (a) If after the hearing the commissioners court finds that creation of the district is feasible and will promote the public safety, welfare, health, and convenience of persons residing in the proposed district, the commissioners court shall grant…

Sec. 775.018. ELECTION. (a) On the granting of a petition, the commissioners court shall order an election to confirm the district's creation and authorize the imposition of a tax not to exceed the rate allowed by Section 48-e, Article III, Texas Constitution. (b) Repealed by Act…

Sec. 775.019. ELECTION RESULT AND COMMISSIONERS COURT ORDER. (a) A district is created and organized under this chapter if a majority of the votes cast in the election favor creation of the district. (b) A district may not include territory in a municipality's limits or extraterr…

Sec. 775.020. OVERLAPPING DISTRICTS LOCATED WHOLLY IN POPULOUS COUNTY. (a) This section applies only to a district located wholly in a county with a population of more than three million. (b) If the territory in a district created under this chapter overlaps with the boundaries o…

Sec. 775.0205. OVERLAPPING DISTRICTS. (a) If the territory in a district created under this chapter overlaps with the boundaries of another district created under this chapter, the most recently created district may not provide services in the overlapping territory that duplicate…

Sec. 775.021. EXCLUSION OF TERRITORY LOCATED WITHIN OTHER TAXING AUTHORITY. (a) This section applies only to a district located in whole or in part in a county that: (1) borders the Gulf of Mexico; and (2) has a population of less than 1.5 million. (b) The board of a district may…

Sec. 775.022. REMOVAL OF TERRITORY BY MUNICIPALITY. (a) If a municipality completes all other procedures necessary to annex territory in a district, including the preparation of a service plan if required by Section 43.056, Local Government Code, the municipality intends to remov…

Sec. 775.0221. ARBITRATION REGARDING REMOVED TERRITORY. (a) The municipality and the district shall negotiate an agreement on the amount of compensation required under Section 775.022. If the municipality and the district cannot reach an agreement, the municipality and the distri…

Sec. 775.0235. REMOVAL OF CERTAIN TERRITORY ON REQUEST OF MUNICIPALITY. (a) The board shall remove territory from a district as provided by this section, on request of a municipality, if the territory: (1) was included in the corporate limits of the municipality at the time the t…

Sec. 775.024. CONSOLIDATION OF EMERGENCY SERVICES DISTRICTS. (a) Two or more emergency services districts may consolidate into a single emergency services district as provided by this section. Before consolidating, the board of each district must: (1) determine that consolidation…

Sec. 775.0241. TAXES FOR CONSOLIDATED DISTRICT. (a) If two districts that want to consolidate under Section 775.024 have different maximum ad valorem tax rates, the board of the district with the lower maximum ad valorem tax rate shall order an election in its district under Sect…

Sec. 775.025. EXCLUSION OF CERTAIN TERRITORY SUBJECT TO ASSESSMENTS. (a) The board shall hold a hearing to consider the exclusion from the district of territory in a planned community if the board receives a petition requesting a hearing on the issue that is signed by at least fi…

Sec. 775.026. CONVERSION OF RURAL FIRE PREVENTION DISTRICTS TO EMERGENCY SERVICES DISTRICTS. (a) Each rural fire prevention district created under former Chapter 794 is converted to an emergency services district operating under this chapter. (b) The name of a district converted …

Sec. 775.031. DISTRICT POWERS. (a) A district is a political subdivision of the state. To perform the functions of the district and to provide emergency services, a district may: (1) acquire, purchase, hold, lease, manage, occupy, and sell real and personal property or an interes…

Sec. 775.0315. LEGAL REPRESENTATION. (a) This section applies only to a district located wholly in a county with a population of 2.1 million or more in which two or more cities with a population of 350,000 or more are located. (b) A district may employ or contract with private le…

Sec. 775.032. CERTAIN BUSINESSES NOT SUBJECT TO AD VALOREM TAX OR DISTRICT POWERS. (a) A business entity is not subject to the ad valorem tax authorized by this chapter or subject to the district's powers if the business entity: (1) provides its own fire prevention and fire contr…

Sec. 775.033. LIABILITY OF DISTRICT. (a) A district is not liable for a claim arising from the act or omission of an employee or volunteer under an oral or written contract with the district if the act or omission: (1) is in the course and scope of the employee's or volunteer's d…

Sec. 775.034. APPOINTMENT OF BOARD IN DISTRICT LOCATED WHOLLY IN ONE COUNTY. (a) The commissioners court of a county in which a single-county district is located shall appoint a five-member board of emergency services commissioners to serve as the district's governing body. To se…

Sec. 775.0341. APPOINTMENT OF BOARD IN CERTAIN DISTRICTS LOCATED IN MORE THAN ONE COUNTY. (a) This section applies only to a district that was authorized to have a board of emergency services commissioners appointed under former Section 776.0345 and that is located: (1) partly in…

Sec. 775.0345. ELECTION OF BOARD IN CERTAIN COUNTIES. (a) This section applies only to a district located wholly in a county: (1) with a population of more than three million; (2) with a population of more than 200,000 that borders Lake Palestine; or (3) with a population of less…

Sec. 775.035. ELECTION OF BOARD IN DISTRICT LOCATED IN MORE THAN ONE COUNTY. (a) The governing body of a district located in more than one county consists of a five-person board of emergency services commissioners elected as prescribed by this section. Except as provided by Subse…

Sec. 775.0355. DISQUALIFICATION OF EMERGENCY SERVICES COMMISSIONERS IN CERTAIN COUNTIES. (a) In this section, "emergency services organization" means: (1) a volunteer fire department; (2) a career or combination fire department; (3) a municipal fire department; (4) an emergency m…

Sec. 775.036. POWERS AND DUTIES OF BOARD. (a) The board shall: (1) hold regular monthly meetings and other meetings as necessary; (2) keep minutes and records of its acts and proceedings; (3) give reports required by the state fire marshal, commissioner of health, and other autho…

Sec. 775.0362. LIMIT ON REGULATION OF FIREWORKS. Except as provided by Section 775.0363, the district may not regulate the sale, use, or transportation of fireworks. Added by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 639 (S.B. 917), Sec. 5, eff. June 17, 2011.

Sec. 775.0363. REGULATION OF FIREWORKS. The district may adopt a rule relating to fireworks that is the same as or less stringent than a rule adopted or enforced by the commissioner of insurance and the state fire marshal under Chapter 2154, Occupations Code, relating to retail f…

Sec. 775.0365. BOARD TRAINING. (a) An emergency services commissioner shall complete at least six hours of continuing education relating to the performance of the duties of an emergency services commissioner at least once in a two-year period. (b) Continuing education instruction…

Sec. 775.0366. SERVICE CONTRACTS. (a) In this section, "local government" has the meaning assigned by Section 791.003, Government Code. (b) The board may contract with a local government, including another district, to provide staff, facilities, equipment, programs, or services t…

Sec. 775.037. OFFICERS OF BOARD. (a) The emergency services commissioners shall elect from among their members a president, vice-president, secretary, treasurer, and assistant treasurer to perform the duties usually required of the respective offices. The office of secretary and …

Sec. 775.038. COMPENSATION; CONFLICT OF INTEREST. (a) Repealed by Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 219 (H.B. 2504), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2017. (a-1) A commissioner of a district is entitled to receive compensation in the same manner and amount as are provided by Section 49.06…

Sec. 775.039. DIFFERENTIAL PAY AND BENEFITS FOR EMPLOYEES OF EMERGENCY SERVICES DISTRICTS. (a) A board may provide differential pay to a district employee who is a member of the state military forces or a reserve component of the United States armed forces who is called to active…

Sec. 775.040. FEES FOR PROVIDING SERVICES. A district, or a person authorized by contract on the district's behalf, may charge a reasonable fee for emergency services performed for or on behalf of a person or entity, including a fee for responding to a false alarm or for a fire c…

Sec. 775.041. FEE PAYMENT AND COLLECTION. (a) A fee imposed by a district under Section 775.040 must be paid within a reasonable amount of time as established by the district. (b) If the fee has not been paid in the amount of time established by the district, the district may col…

Sec. 775.042. REMOVAL OF BOARD MEMBER BY BOARD. (a) A board may remove a member if: (1) the member is absent from more than half of the regularly scheduled board meetings that the member is eligible to attend during a calendar year without an excuse approved by a majority vote of…

Sec. 775.0422. REMOVAL OF APPOINTED BOARD MEMBER BY COMMISSIONERS COURT. (a) This section does not apply to a district unless the commissioners court of the county in which the district is located adopts this section by resolution. (a-1) This section applies only to an appointed …

Sec. 775.0423. REMOVAL OF ELECTED BOARD MEMBER. (a) This section applies only to a board member who: (1) is elected; or (2) is appointed to fill a vacancy in an elected board member position. (b) A board member may be removed using the procedures provided by Chapter 87, Local Gov…

Sec. 775.043. EXEMPTION FROM INVESTMENT TRAINING. (a) Section 2256.008, Government Code, does not apply to an officer or employee of a district created under this chapter. (b) A district may invest funds only in the authorized investments set forth under Government Code Section 2…