Relating to the establishment of emergency response districts and fire departments

Upon the approval of a district, an appointed civil engineer or the county engineer is required to submit a preliminary plat exhibiting certain details of the district and a subsequent report. Current law also requires the district fire chief to appoint an assistant fire chief for each existing fire department and station within the district who shall be responsible for delivery of fire protection service and emergency medical service within the areas designated by the commission. The bill repeals the pilot program and authorizes a governmental entity, as defined in the bill, to establish an emergency response district. The bill amends the definition of “commission” to mean a member or designee of each governmental entity participating in the emergency response district. The bill requires each governmental entity intending to participate in an emergency response district to issue a notice of intent to hold a public hearing concerning the establishment of a proposed district and provide certain information with such notice. The bill requires a hearing concerning the establishment of a proposed district to occur no less than days and no more than days after the notice is issued. The bill amends the process for changing district boundaries to require the approval of the commission and each governmental entity that is a member of the emergency response district. The bill requires incorporation documents of an emergency response district to include provisions for dissolution, the withdrawal of an individual member, and the dispensing of property in either event. The bill repeals provisions relating to the engineer’s responsibilities and the appointment of assistant fire chiefs. The bill requires a city in which an institution of higher education governed by the state board of regents is located to establish, house, equip, staff, uniform, and maintain a full-time, professional fire department that is separate from the city’s police department.