Texas Water Code

§ 49.351 — FIRE DEPARTMENTS

WA § 49.351Title 4. GENERAL LAW DISTRICTS · Ch. 49. PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO ALL DISTRICTS · Art. L. FIRE DEPARTMENTS

Statute text

(a)A district providing potable water or sewer services or facilities may, separately or jointly with another district, municipality, or other political subdivision, establish, operate, and maintain, finance with ad valorem taxes, mandatory fees, or voluntary contributions, and issue bonds for a fire department to perform all fire-fighting services within the district as provided in this subchapter and may provide for the construction and purchase of necessary buildings, facilities, land, and equipment and the provision of an adequate water supply.

(b)After complying with the requirements of this section, the district or districts shall provide an adequate system and water supply for fire-fighting purposes, may purchase necessary land, may construct and purchase necessary buildings, facilities, and equipment, and may employ or contract with a fire department to employ all necessary personnel including supervisory personnel to operate the fire department.

(c)For financing a plan approved in accordance with this section, bonds and ad valorem taxes must be authorized and may be issued or imposed as provided by law for the authorization and issuance of other bonds and the authorization and imposition of other ad valorem taxes of the district.

(d)Two or more districts may contract to operate a joint fire department for their districts and shall include in the contract a system for joint administration and operation of the fire department, the extent of services to be provided, a method for funding the department from funds of each district, and any other terms and conditions the parties consider necessary.

(e)A district may contract with any other person to perform fire-fighting services within the district.

(f)Before a district imposes an ad valorem tax or issues bonds payable wholly or partly from ad valorem taxes to finance the establishment of a fire department, contracts to operate a joint fire department, or contracts with another person to perform fire-fighting services within the district, the district must comply with Subsections (g), (h), and (i).

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Legislative history

Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 105 (S.B. 902), Sec. 20, eff. September 1, 2013. Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 991 (H.B. 2152), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2013. Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1236 (S.B. 1296), Sec. 21.001(62), eff. September 1, 2015. Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1128 (H.B. 2590), Sec. 3, eff. September 1, 2019.