HB 0277 2003
1	A bill to be entitled
2	An act relating to the South Trail Fire Protection and
3	Rescue District, Lee County; amending ch. 2000-484, Laws
4	of Florida; conforming the district charter to Florida
5	Statutes relating to annexations within the district;
6	providing an effective date.
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8	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
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10	Section 1. Section 5 of section 3 of chapter 2000-484,
11	Laws of Florida, is amended to read:
12	Section 5.Section 171.093, Florida Statutes, as it may be
13	amended from time to time, is applicable to any annexation of
14	land located within the District's boundaries.Beginning on the
15	effective date of this act, any properties that may be annexed
16	by the City of Fort Myers and located within the District shall
17	remain the responsibility of the District until January 1 of the
18	following year, at which time the City shall assume the
19	responsibility for fire control and such property shall no
20	longer be a part of, or subject to, the taxing authority of the
21	fire control taxing District. The municipal governing authority
22	shall enter into an agreement to purchase, lease, or maintain
23	real property and equipment of the District, if it is located
24	within the area so annexed. Such agreement shall be reached by
25	negotiated settlement. Should the City and the fire control
26	taxing District not be able to reach a negotiated settlement,
27	then the City shall have eminent domain authority for all real
28	property owned by the fire control District and annexed by the
29	City. The presently appointed or elected commissioners of the
30	District who reside within the areas annexed by the City of Fort
31	Myers shall continue to serve as the commissioners of the
32	District until the local governing authority assumes
33	responsibility for the lands so annexed.
34	Section 2. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law.
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