87R1280 SMT-D
 
  By: Krause H.B. No. 638
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the authority of certain political subdivisions to
  adopt a budget that reduces the amount allocated to provide a fire
  protection, law enforcement, or emergency medical service.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 140, Local Government Code, is amended
  by adding Section 140.0046 to read as follows:
         Sec. 140.0046.  LIMITATION ON AUTHORITY OF CERTAIN POLITICAL
  SUBDIVISIONS TO REDUCE BUDGET FOR PUBLIC SAFETY SERVICES. (a)  In
  this section, "public safety service" means a fire protection, law
  enforcement, or emergency medical service.
         (b)  This section does not apply to a school district.
         (c)  Except as provided by Subsection (d), a political
  subdivision may not adopt a budget unless the political subdivision
  allocates money in that budget to provide for each public safety
  service in an amount equal to or greater than the amount allocated
  to provide for that service in the preceding fiscal year.
         (d)  A political subdivision may adopt a budget that does not
  meet the requirements of Subsection (c) that relate to a public
  safety service if the political subdivision will not provide that
  service in the fiscal year for which the budget is adopted.
         (e)  For purposes of this section, the amount allocated in a
  budget to provide a service includes all maintenance, operations,
  and debt service costs associated with providing the service.
         SECTION 2.  The change in law made by this Act applies only
  to the adoption of a budget by a political subdivision for a fiscal
  year that begins on or after the effective date of this Act.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.