ENROLLED HB 1225, Engrossed 1 2003 Legislature
   
1 A bill to be entitled
2          An act relating to Midway Fire District, formerly Midway
3    Fire Protection District, Santa Rosa County; providing for
4    codification of special laws relating to the district;
5    amending, codifying, reenacting, and repealing all prior
6    special acts; providing definitions; providing for
7    creation, status, charter amendments, boundaries, and
8    district purposes; providing for a board of commissioners
9    and powers, duties, and responsibilities thereof;
10    providing for election of officers; providing for
11    compensation and execution of bonds; preserving authority
12    to levy ad valorem taxes, non-ad valorem assessments, and
13    impact fees; providing powers and authority; providing for
14    use of district funds; requiring a record of all board
15    meetings; authorizing the board to adopt policies and
16    regulations; providing for the board to make an annual
17    budget; authorizing the board to enact fire prevention
18    ordinances, appoint a fire marshal, acquire land, enter
19    contracts, and operate a fire rescue service; providing
20    for annexation of district lands; providing for
21    dissolution; providing immunity from tort liability for
22    officers, agents, and employees; providing for district
23    expansion; providing for construction and effect;
24    repealing chapters 80-607, 82-377, and 90-425, Laws of
25    Florida; providing an effective date.
26         
27          Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
28         
29          Section 1. Pursuant to section 191.015, Florida Statutes,
30    this act constitutes the codification of all special acts
31    relating to Midway Fire District, formerly the Midway Fire
32    Protection District, located in Santa Rosa County. It is the
33    intent of the Legislature to provide a single, comprehensive
34    special act charter for the district, including all current
35    legislative authority granted to the district by its several
36    legislative enactments and any additional authority granted by
37    this act and chapters 189 and 191, Florida Statutes, as amended
38    from time to time. It is further the intent of this act to
39    preserve all district authority, including the authority to
40    annually assess and levy against the taxable property in the
41    district an ad valorem tax not to exceed the limit provided in
42    the district’s prior special acts, chapters 80-607, 82-377, and
43    90-425, Laws of Florida, and chapter 191, Florida Statutes, as
44    amended from time to time.
45          Section 2. Chapters 80-607, 82-377, and 90-425, Laws of
46    Florida, relating to Midway Fire District, formerly Midway Fire
47    Protection District, are amended, codified, reenacted, and
48    repealed as provided herein.
49          Section 3. Midway Fire District is re-created and the
50    charter for the district is re-created and reenacted to read:
51          Section 1. Definitions.--As used in this act, unless
52    otherwise specified:
53          (1) “District” means the Midway Fire District.
54          (2) “Board” means the board of commissioners created
55    pursuant to this act and chapter 191, Florida Statutes.
56          (3) “Commissioner” means a member of the board of
57    commissioners of and for the district.
58          (4) “Residence” means one single-family dwelling,
59    including one single-apartment dwelling unit, one single-
60    condominium dwelling unit, one single-duplex, triplex, or other
61    attached dwelling unit, one single-family detached dwelling
62    unit, or one single-mobile or modular home dwelling unit.
63          (5) “Business” means motels or apartments, standard
64    commercial or industrial businesses such as gasoline stations,
65    stores, marinas, and similar establishments, as authorized
66    pursuant to the applicable local government comprehensive plan.
67          Section 2. Creation; status; charter amendments;
68    boundaries; district purposes.--There is hereby created an
69    independent special taxing fire protection and rescue service
70    district incorporating lands in Santa Rosa County described in
71    subsection (1) which shall be a public corporation having the
72    powers, duties, obligations, and immunities herein set forth,
73    under the name of the Midway Fire District. The district is
74    organized and exists for all purposes, and shall hold all
75    powers, set forth in this act and chapters 189 and 191, Florida
76    Statutes.
77          (1) The lands to be included within the district are the
78    following described lands in Santa Rosa County:
79         
80          Begin at a point where the east line of Section 4,
81    Township 2 South, Range 27 West, Santa Rosa County,
82    Florida, meets the southern waters edge of East Bay;
83    thence go South along the East line of Section 4 to a
84    nail & disk #6679 in the center of State Road 399
85    (East Bay Blvd.), said point known as Point “A”;
86    thence continue south along the east line of Sections
87    4, 9, 16, 21, and 28 of said township and range to a
88    nail & disk #6679 in the center of Tidewater Drive;
89    said point known as Point “B”; thence continue south
90    along the East Line of Section 28 to the Northern
91    Waters edge of Santa Rosa Sound; thence go westerly
92    along said waters edge to a point of intersection with
93    the eastern boundary of the city limits of the City of
94    Gulf Breeze, Florida; said point being an 8 inch
95    square concrete monument and known as point “C”;
96    thence go northwesterly along said eastern line being,
97    also being the east line of Section 2, Township 3
98    South, Range 29 West, and the east line of Section 34,
99    Township 2 South, Range 29 West to the Northeast
100    Corner of said Section 34; thence go westerly along
101    the North Line of said Section 34 also being said city
102    limits line to a 2 ½ capped pipe known as point “D”
103    thence continue westerly along said line approximately
104    2000 feet to the aforesaid southern waters edge of
105    east bay; thence go easterly along said waters edge to
106    the point of beginning.
107         
108          (2) The purpose of this act is to promote the health,
109    welfare, and safety of the citizens and residents of Santa Rosa
110    County who reside within the geographical limits of that area
111    known as the Midway Fire District, by providing for:
112    firefighting equipment; the establishment and maintenance of
113    fire stations and fire substations; the acquisition and
114    maintenance of all firefighting and protection equipment
115    necessary for the prevention of fires or fighting of fires; the
116    employment and training of such personnel as may be necessary to
117    accomplish fire prevention and firefighting; the establishment
118    and maintenance of emergency service; the acquisition and
119    maintenance of rescue and other emergency equipment; and the
120    employment and training of necessary emergency personnel. The
121    district may provide Advanced Life Support services within the
122    district’s boundaries. The district shall have all other powers
123    necessary to carry out the purposes of the district as otherwise
124    provided by law, including, but not limited to, the power to
125    adopt all necessary measures, rules, and regulations and
126    policies relating to said purposes.
127          (3) Nothing herein shall prevent the district from
128    cooperating with the state or other local governments to render
129    such services to communities adjacent to the land described in
130    this section, or such other places as from time to time may be
131    deemed desirable.
132          (4) The district was created by special act of the
133    Legislature in 1982. Its charter may be amended only by special
134    act of the Legislature.
135          Section 3. Board of commissioners.--
136          (1) Pursuant to chapter 191, Florida Statutes, the
137    business and affairs of the district shall be governed and
138    administered by a board of five commissioners, who shall serve a
139    term of four years each, subject to the provisions of chapter
140    191, Florida Statutes, and this act. Each commissioner shall
141    hold office until his or her successor is elected and qualified
142    under the provisions of this act. The procedures for conducting
143    district elections and for qualification of candidates and
144    electors shall be pursuant to chapters 189 and 191, Florida
145    Statutes, as they may be amended from time to time.
146          (2) The board may employ such personnel as deemed
147    necessary for the proper function and operation of a fire
148    department. The salaries of fire department and emergency
149    service personnel, and any other wages, shall be determined by
150    the board.
151          Section 4. Officers; board compensation; bond.--
152          (1) In accordance with chapter 191, Florida Statutes, each
153    elected member of the board shall assume office 10 days
154    following the member’s election. Annually, within 60 days after
155    the election of new members of said board, the members shall
156    organize by electing from their number a chair, vice chair,
157    secretary, and treasurer. However, the same member may be both
158    secretary and treasurer, in accordance with chapter 191, Florida
159    Statutes, as amended from time to time.
160          (2) The commissioners shall receive reimbursement for
161    actual expenses incurred while performing the duties of their
162    offices in accordance with general law governing per diem for
163    public officials.
164          (3) Each commissioner, upon taking office and in
165    accordance with chapters 189 and 191, Florida Statutes, shall
166    execute to the Governor, for the benefit of the district, a bond
167    conditioned upon the faithful performance of the duties of the
168    commissioner’s office. The premium for such bonds shall be paid
169    from district funds.
170          Section 5. Powers; duties; responsibilities.--
171          (1) The district shall have and the board may exercise all
172    the powers and duties set forth in this act, and chapters 189,
173    191, and 197, Florida Statutes, as they may be amended from time
174    to time, including, but not limited to, ad valorem taxation,
175    bond issuance, other revenue-raising capabilities, budget
176    preparation and approval, liens and foreclosure of liens, use of
177    tax deeds and tax certificates as appropriate for non-ad valorem
178    assessments, and contractual agreements. The district may be
179    financed by any method established in this act or chapter 189 or
180    chapter 191, Florida Statutes, as amended from time to time.
181          (2) The board shall continue to have the right, power, and
182    authority to levy annually an ad valorem tax against the taxable
183    real estate within the district to provide funds for the
184    purposes of the district as authorized by chapters 80-607, 82-
185    377, and 90-425, Laws of Florida, in an amount not to exceed the
186    limit provided in chapter 191, Florida Statutes, as amended from
187    time to time. Although the district is authorized to levy a
188    maximum millage rate as provided for in section 191.009(1),
189    Florida Statutes, the district must receive referendum approval,
190    as required by the State Constitution and section 191.009,
191    Florida Statutes, for any increased millage rate above such rate
192    that has been previously authorized by a special act and
193    approved by referendum.
194          (3) The methods for assessing and collecting non-ad
195    valorem assessments, fees, or service charges shall be as set
196    forth in this act, chapter 170, chapter 189, chapter 191, or
197    chapter 197, Florida Statutes, as amended from time to time.
198          (4) The district shall levy and collect ad valorem taxes
199    in accordance with chapter 200, Florida Statutes, as amended
200    from time to time.
201          (5) The district is authorized to levy and enforce non-ad
202    valorem assessments in accordance with chapters 170, 189, 191,
203    and 197, Florida Statutes, as amended from time to time.
204          (6) The district’s planning requirements shall be as set
205    forth in this act and chapters 189 and 191, Florida Statutes, as
206    amended from time to time.
207          (7) Requirements for financial disclosure, meeting
208    notices, reporting, public records maintenance, and per diem
209    expenses for officers and employees shall be as set forth in
210    this act and chapters 112, 119, 189, 191, and 286, Florida
211    Statutes, as amended from time to time.
212          Section 6. Impact fees.--
213          (1) Pursuant to section 191.009(4), Florida Statutes, it
214    is hereby declared that the cost of new facilities upon fire
215    protection and emergency service should be borne by new users of
216    the district’s services to the extent new construction requires
217    new facilities, but only to that extent. It is the legislative
218    intent of this section to transfer to the new users of the
219    district’s fire protection and emergency services a fair share
220    of the costs that new users impose on the district for new
221    facilities. This section shall only apply in the event that the
222    general purpose local government in which the district is
223    located has not adopted an impact fee for fire services which is
224    distributed to the district for construction within its
225    jurisdictional boundaries.
226          (2) The impact fees collected by the district pursuant to
227    this section shall be kept as a separate fund from other
228    revenues of the district and shall be used exclusively for the
229    acquisition, purchase, or construction of new facilities or
230    portions thereof required to provide fire protection and
231    emergency service to new construction. “New facilities” means
232    land, buildings, and capital equipment, including, but not
233    limited to, fire and emergency vehicles and radio telemetry
234    equipment. The fees shall not be used for the acquisition,
235    purchase, or construction of facilities which must be obtained
236    in any event, regardless of growth within the district. The
237    board of fire commissioners shall maintain adequate records to
238    ensure that impact fees are expended only for permissible new
239    facilities.
240          Section 7. Ad valorem taxes a lien.--The taxes levied and
241    assessed by the district shall be a lien upon the land so
242    assessed along with the county taxes assessed against such land
243    until said assessments and taxes have been paid, and if the
244    taxes levied by the district become delinquent, such taxes shall
245    be considered a part of the county tax subject to the same
246    penalties, charges, fees, and remedies for enforcement and
247    collection and shall be enforced and collected as provided by
248    general law for the collection of such taxes.
249          Section 8. Deposit of taxes, assessments, fees; authority
250    to disburse funds.--
251          (1) The funds of the district shall be deposited in
252    qualified public depositories, in accordance with chapters 191
253    and 280, Florida Statutes, as they may be amended from time to
254    time.
255          (2) All warrants for the payment of labor, equipment, and
256    other expenses of the board, and in carrying into effect this
257    act and the purposes thereof, shall be payable by the treasurer
258    of the board on accounts and vouchers approved and authorized by
259    the board.
260          Section 9. Authority to borrow money.--
261          (1) The board of commissioners shall have the power and
262    authority to borrow money or issue other evidences of
263    indebtedness for the purpose of the district in accordance with
264    chapters 189 and 191, Florida Statutes, as amended from time to
265    time; provided, however, that the total payments in any one
266    year, including principal and interest, on any indebtedness
267    incurred by the district shall not exceed 50 percent of the
268    total annual budgeted revenues of the district for the year in
269    which said payments are to be made.
270          (2) The board of commissioners shall not be personally or
271    individually liable for the repayment of such loan. Such
272    repayment shall be made out of the tax receipts of the district
273    except as provided in this subsection. The commissioners shall
274    not create any indebtedness or incur obligations for any sum or
275    amount which they are unable to repay out of district funds then
276    in their hands except as otherwise provided in this act;
277    provided, however, that the commissioners may make purchases of
278    equipment on an installment basis as necessary if funds are
279    available for the payment of the current year’s installment on
280    such equipment plus the amount due in that year of any other
281    installments and the repayment of any bank loan or other
282    existing indebtedness which may be due in that year.
283          Section 10. Use of district funds.--No funds of the
284    district shall be used for any purposes other than the
285    administration of the affairs and business of the district; the
286    construction, care, maintenance, upkeep, operation, and purchase
287    of firefighting and rescue equipment or a fire station or
288    stations; the payment of public utilities; and the payment of
289    salaries of district personnel as the board may from time to
290    time determine to be necessary for the operations and
291    effectiveness of the district.
292          Section 11. Record of board meetings; authority to adopt
293    policies and regulations; annual reports; budget.--
294          (1) A record shall be kept of all meetings of the board,
295    and in such meetings concurrence of a majority of the
296    commissioners present shall be necessary to any affirmative
297    action by the board.
298          (2) The board shall have the authority to adopt and amend
299    policies and regulations for the administration of the affairs
300    of the district under the terms of this act and chapters 189 and
301    191, Florida Statutes, which shall include, but not be limited
302    to, the authority to adopt the necessary policies and
303    regulations for the administration and supervision of the
304    property and personnel of the district and for the prevention of
305    fires, fire control, and rescue work within the district. Said
306    commissioners shall have all the lawful power and authority
307    necessary to implement the purposes for which the said fire
308    district is created, which power and authority shall include,
309    but not be limited to, the power to purchase all necessary fire
310    equipment, rescue equipment, and all other equipment necessary
311    to carry out the purposes of said fire district; to purchase all
312    necessary real and personal property; to purchase and carry
313    standard insurance policies on all such equipment; to employ
314    such personnel as may be necessary to carry out the purpose of
315    said fire district; to provide adequate insurance for said
316    employees; to purchase and carry appropriate insurance for the
317    protection of all firefighters and personnel as well as all
318    equipment and personal property on loan to the district; to sell
319    surplus real and personal property in the same manner and
320    subject to the same restrictions as provided for such sales by
321    counties; and to enter into contracts with qualified service
322    providers, other fire departments, municipalities, and state and
323    federal governmental units for the purpose of obtaining
324    financial aid, assistance, or benefits, expanding services,
325    providing effective mutual aid, and for otherwise carrying out
326    the purposes of the district. The commissioners shall adopt a
327    fiscal year for said fire district which shall be October 1 to
328    September 30.
329          (3) For the purposes of carrying into effect this act, the
330    board shall annually prepare, consider, and adopt a district
331    budget pursuant to the applicable requirements of chapters 189
332    and 191, Florida Statutes, as they may be amended from time to
333    time.
334          Section 12. Authority to enact fire prevention ordinances;
335    appoint fire marshal; acquire land; enter contracts; establish
336    salaries; general and special powers; authority to provide
337    emergency medical and rescue services.--
338          (1) The board of commissioners shall have the right and
339    power to enact fire prevention ordinances in the same manner
340    provided for the adoption of policies and regulations in section
341    11(2), and when the provisions of such fire prevention
342    ordinances are determined by the board to be violated, the
343    office of the state attorney, upon written notice of such
344    violation issued by the board, is authorized to prosecute such
345    person or persons held to be in violation thereof. Any person
346    found guilty of a violation may be punished as provided in
347    chapter 775, Florida Statutes, as a misdemeanor of the second
348    degree. The cost of such prosecution shall be paid out of the
349    district funds unless otherwise provided by law.
350          (2) The board shall have the power to appoint a fire
351    marshal, who shall be a person experienced in all types of
352    firefighting and fire prevention and who shall work with and
353    cooperate with the Florida State Fire Marshal in which the
354    district is situated in the prevention of fires of all types.
355    The district fire marshal shall be authorized to enter, at all
356    reasonable hours, any building or premises for the purpose of
357    making any inspection or investigation which the State Fire
358    Marshal is authorized to make pursuant to state law and
359    regulation. The owner, lessee, manager, or operator of any
360    building or premises shall permit the district fire marshal to
361    enter and inspect the building or premises at all reasonable
362    hours. The district fire marshal shall report any violations of
363    state fire safety law or regulations to the appropriate
364    officials.
365          (3) The board shall have the power to acquire, by gift or
366    purchase, lands or rights in lands, and any other property, real
367    and personal, tangible or intangible, necessary, desirable, or
368    convenient for carrying out the purposes of the district, and to
369    pay any and all costs of same out of the funds of the district.
370          (4) The board shall have the power to enter into contracts
371    or to otherwise join with any other district, city, town, the
372    United States of America, or any agency or authority thereunder,
373    for the purpose of expanding services, providing effective
374    mutual aid, and accomplishing and carrying out the purposes for
375    which the district was created and for the further purpose of
376    specifically obtaining financial aid, assistance, or subsidy.
377          (5) The district is authorized to establish and maintain
378    emergency medical and rescue response services and to acquire
379    and maintain rescue, medical, and other emergency equipment,
380    subject to the provisions of chapter 401, Florida Statutes.
381          Section 13. Annexations.--If any municipality or other
382    fire control district annexes any land included in the district,
383    such annexation shall follow the procedures set forth in section
384    171.093, Florida Statutes, as amended from time to time.
385          Section 14. Dissolution.--The district shall exist until
386    dissolved in the same manner as it was created.
387          Section 15. Immunity from tort liability.--
388          (1) The district and its officers, agents, and employees
389    shall have the same immunity from tort liability as other
390    agencies and subdivisions of the state. The provisions of
391    chapter 768, Florida Statutes, as from time to time amended,
392    shall apply to all claims asserted against the district.
393          (2) The district commissioners and all officers, agents,
394    and employees of the district shall have the same immunity and
395    exemption from personal liability as is provided by general law
396    of the state for state, county, and municipal officers.
397          (3) The district shall defend all claims against the
398    commissioners, officers, agents, and employees which arise
399    within the scope of employment or purposes of the district and
400    shall pay all judgments against said persons, except where said
401    persons acted in bad faith or with malicious purpose or in a
402    manner exhibiting wanton and willful disregard of human rights,
403    safety, or property.
404          Section 16. District expansion.--The district boundaries
405    may be extended from time to time as follows:
406          (1)(a) Land contiguous to the boundaries of the district
407    in unincorporated Santa Rosa County may be included in the
408    district when a written petition for inclusion signed and sworn
409    to by a majority of the owners of the real property within the
410    tract or tracts to be included in the district has been
411    presented to the board of commissioners and the proposal has
412    been approved by the affirmative vote of no fewer than three
413    members of the board of commissioners at a regular meeting.
414          (b) The petition must contain the legal description of the
415    property sought to be added to the district and the names and
416    addresses of the owners of the property.
417          (2) If a proposal to add an area to the district as
418    defined in subsection (1) is approved by the affirmative vote of
419    no fewer than three members of the board of commissioners at a
420    regular meeting, the board of commissioners shall thereafter
421    adopt a resolution describing the lands to be included within
422    the district and shall cause such resolution to be duly enrolled
423    in the record of the meeting and a certified copy of the
424    resolution to be recorded in the Office of the Clerk of the
425    Circuit Court in Santa Rosa County.
426          (3) Upon adoption of the resolution by the board, the
427    district shall, pursuant to chapter 191, Florida Statutes,
428    request that its legislative delegation approve said addition
429    and sponsor legislation amending the district boundary. Upon
430    approval by the Legislature, the boundary shall be amended.
431          (4) Lands within municipal boundaries of cities contiguous
432    to district boundaries may be included in the district upon
433    request by the governing board of the municipality, approval of
434    said request by affirmative vote of no fewer than three members
435    of the district board, and referendum approval of inclusion by
436    the electors of the municipality whose residences are located
437    within the proposed amended boundary of the district. The
438    referendum shall be conducted by the municipality at the next
439    available special or general election. Upon approval by the
440    Legislature, the boundary shall be amended.
441          Section 4. This act shall be construed as remedial and
442    shall be liberally construed to promote the purpose for which it
443    is intended.
444          Section 5. In the event that any part of this act should
445    be held void for any reason, such holding shall not affect any
446    other part thereof.
447          Section 6. Chapters 80-607, 82-377, and 90-425, Laws of
448    Florida, are repealed.
449          Section 7. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law.
450         
451