HB 1537CS

CHAMBER ACTION




1The Finance & Tax Committee recommends the following:
2
3     Council/Committee Substitute
4     Remove the entire bill and insert:
5
A bill to be entitled
6An act relating to Walton County; creating the Glendale
7Fire District, an independent special district; providing
8definitions; providing for creation, status, charter
9amendments, boundaries, and purposes; providing for a
10board of commissioners; providing for election and terms
11of commissioners; providing for employment of board
12personnel; providing for election of board officers;
13providing for compensation and bonds of commissioners;
14providing powers, duties, and responsibilities of the
15board; preserving the authority to levy non-ad valorem
16special assessments; providing for impact fees;
17authorizing the board to levy special assessments;
18providing legislative intent; providing duties of the
19property appraiser; providing for special assessment as a
20lien; providing for deposit of such special assessments;
21providing for authority to disburse funds; authorizing the
22board to borrow money; providing for use of district
23funds; requiring a record of all board meetings;
24authorizing the board to adopt policies and regulations;
25providing for the board to make an annual budget;
26requiring an annual report; authorizing the board to enact
27fire prevention ordinances, appoint a district fire chief,
28acquire land, enter contracts, establish salaries, and
29establish and operate a fire rescue service; providing for
30district authority upon annexation of district lands;
31providing for dissolution; providing immunity from tort
32liability for officers, agents, and employees; providing
33for construction and effect; requiring a referendum;
34providing an effective date.
35
36Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
37
38     Section 1.  Definitions.--As used in this act, unless
39otherwise specified:
40     (1)  "District" means the Glendale Fire District.
41     (2)  "Board" means the board of commissioners created
42pursuant to this act and chapter 191, Florida Statutes.
43     (3)  "Board of directors" means the existing policymaking
44and governing body of the Glendale Fire District of Walton
45County.
46     (4)  "Commissioner" means a member of the board of
47commissioners of and for the district.
48     (5)  "Director" means a member of the board of directors.
49     (6)  "Residence" means one single-family dwelling,
50including one single-apartment dwelling unit; one single-
51condominium dwelling unit; one single duplex, triplex, or other
52attached dwelling unit; one single-family detached dwelling
53unit; or one single mobile or modular home dwelling unit.
54     (7)  "Business" means a motel, apartment, or rental
55dwelling, along with any other standard commercial or industrial
56business such as a gasoline station, store, marina, or similar
57establishment, as authorized pursuant to the applicable local
58government comprehensive plan, whether or not such businesses
59are required to pay or collect sales taxes.
60     Section 2.  Creation; status; charter amendments;
61boundaries; district purposes.--There is created an independent
62special fire control district and rescue service district
63incorporating lands in Walton County described in subsection
64(1), which shall be a public corporation having the powers,
65duties, obligations, and immunities set forth in this act, under
66the name of the Glendale Fire District. The district is
67organized and exists for all purposes and shall hold all powers
68set forth in this act and chapters 189 and 191, Florida
69Statutes.
70     (1)  The lands to be included within the district are the
71following described lands in Walton County:
72All Sections 24, 25, 26, 35, 36, Township 5 North,
73Range 20 West; Walton County, Florida. Also all
74Sections 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32,
7533, 34, 35, 36, Township 5 North, Range 19 West;
76Walton County, Florida. Also all Sections 28, 29, 30,
7731, 32, 33, Township 5 North, Range 18 West; Walton
78County, Florida. Also all Sections 1, 12, Township 4
79North, Range 20 West; Walton County, Florida. Also all
80sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13,
8114, 15, 16, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 34, 35,
82Township 4 North, Range 19 West, Walton County,
83Florida. Also all Sections 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 16, 17,
8418, 19, 20, 21, 28, 29, 30, Township 4 North, Range 18
85West, Walton County, Florida. Also all of Section 33,
86Township 4 North, Range 19 West, Walton County,
87Florida: less and except the south 1/4 of section 33.
88Those portions in Township 3 North, Range 19 West,
89which include, those parts of Section 1 and 2 lying
90North of the centerline of County Road 1883 and
91Sunrise Road. The portion in Township 3 North, Range
9219 West, which includes, the part of Section 3 lying
93North of the centerline of Sunrise Road. The portion
94in Township 4 North, Range 19 West which includes, the
95part Section 36 lying North and East of the centerline
96of County Road 1883 and Coy Ellis Road. Those portions
97within Township 4 North, Range 18 West, which include,
98those portions of Section 31, lying North of the
99centerline of Coy Ellis Road. Those portions in
100Township 4 North, Range 18 West which includes,
101Sections 32, 33, lying North of the centerline of
102County Road 183 North. The portion in Township 4
103North, Range 18 West which includes, Section 33 lying
104Northeast of County Road 183B.
105     (2)  The purpose of this act is to promote the general
106health, welfare, and safety of the citizens and residents of
107Walton County who reside within the geographical limits of the
108Glendale Fire District by providing for the financial support of
109the Glendale Fire District of Walton County, a Florida not-for-
110profit corporation, which currently provides the district with
111fire protection services, facilities, and firefighting
112equipment; the establishment and maintenance of fire stations
113and fire substations; the acquisition and maintenance of all
114firefighting and protection equipment necessary for the
115prevention of fires or fighting of fires; the employment and
116training of such personnel as may be necessary to accomplish
117fire prevention and firefighting; the establishment and
118maintenance of emergency services; the acquisition and
119maintenance of rescue and other emergency equipment; and the
120employment and training of necessary emergency personnel. The
121district may provide emergency medical services. The district
122shall have all other powers necessary to carry out these
123purposes. The district shall be a fire control district and
124shall have no responsibility for providing ambulance or similar
125emergency services within the district's boundaries.
126     (3)  Nothing in this act shall prevent the district from
127cooperating with the state or other local governments to render
128such services to communities adjacent to the lands described in
129this section as evidenced by a signed aid agreement.
130     (4)  The district charter may be amended only by special
131act of the Legislature.
132     Section 3.  Board of commissioners.--
133     (1)  Pursuant to chapter 191, Florida Statutes, the
134business and affairs of the district shall be governed and
135administered by a board of five commissioners, who shall be
136qualified electors residing within the district and shall be
137elected by the qualified electors residing within the district
138at a special election, subject to the provisions of chapters 189
139and 191, Florida Statutes, and this act. Each commissioner shall
140hold office until his or her successor is elected and qualified
141under the provisions of this act. The procedures for conducting
142district elections and for qualification of candidates and
143electors shall be pursuant to chapters 189 and 191, Florida
144Statutes.
145     (2)  The five members of the initial board shall be elected
146by the qualified electors residing within the district. The
147three elected members for seats 1, 3, and 5 in the initial
148election under this act shall serve terms of 3 years each. The
149remaining two elected members for seats 2 and 4 in the initial
150election under this act shall serve terms of 2 years each.
151Subsequent elections under this act shall coincide with the
152general elections of this state, and members of the board shall
153serve on a nonpartisan basis for terms of 4 years each.
154     (3)  Vacancies in office shall be filled by special
155election, said election to be held coincident with the next
156countywide general or special election. The board may appoint a
157qualified elector of the district to act as commissioner until
158the vacancy is filled by election. A commissioner must be a
159qualified elector residing within the district. A commissioner
160may be removed from office for any reason that a state or county
161officer may be removed.
162     (4)  All elections shall be noticed, called, and held
163pursuant to the provisions of the general laws of the state,
164except as otherwise provided in this act. The board shall, to
165the extent possible, coordinate all elections with countywide
166general or special elections in order to minimize cost.
167Elections shall be called through the adoption of an appropriate
168resolution of the district directed to the Board of County
169Commissioners of Walton County, the Supervisor of Elections of
170Walton County, and other appropriate officers of the county. The
171district shall reimburse county government for the actual cost
172of district elections. No commissioner shall be paid a employee
173of the district while holding said position. This shall not
174prevent volunteers receiving reimbursement for expenses from
175serving as commissioners.
176     (5)  The board may employ such personnel as deemed
177necessary for the proper function and operation of a fire
178district. The salaries of fire department and emergency service
179personnel, and any other wages, shall be determined by the
180board.
181     Section 4.  Officers; board compensation; bond.--
182     (1)  In accordance with chapter 191, Florida Statutes, each
183elected member of the board shall assume office 10 days
184following the member's election. Annually, within 60 days after
185election of new members of said board, the members immediately
186upon their election as herein provided, or within 10 days
187thereafter and annually in November, shall organize by electing
188from their number a chair, vice chair, secretary, and treasurer.
189However, the same member may be both secretary and treasurer, in
190accordance with chapter 191, Florida Statutes, as amended from
191time to time.
192     (2)  The commissioners may receive reimbursement for actual
193expenses incurred while performing the duties of their offices
194in accordance with general law governing per diem for public
195officials. Commissioners may receive compensation for their
196services in accordance with chapter 191, Florida Statutes, as
197amended from time to time.
198     (3)  Each commissioner, upon taking office and in
199accordance with chapters 189 and 191, Florida Statutes, shall
200execute to the Governor, for the benefit of the district, a bond
201of $5,000 with a qualified personal or corporate surety,
202conditioned upon the faithful performance of the duties of the
203commissioner's office and upon an accounting for all funds that
204come into his or her hands as commissioner; however, the
205treasurer shall furnish a bond of $10,000, which may be in lieu
206of the $5,000 bond. The premium for such bonds shall be paid
207from district funds.
208     Section 5.  Powers; duties; responsibilities.--
209     (1)  The district shall have and the board may exercise by
210majority vote all the powers and duties set forth in this act
211and chapters 189, 191, and 197, Florida Statutes, as they may be
212amended from time to time, including, but not limited to,
213special assessments, other revenue-raising capabilities, budget
214preparation and approval, liens and foreclosure of liens, use of
215tax deeds and tax certificates as appropriate from non-ad
216valorem assessments, contractual agreements, and adoptions of
217ordinances and resolutions that are necessary to conduct
218district business if such ordinances do not conflict with an
219ordinance of a local general purpose government within whose
220jurisdiction the district is located.
221     (2)  The board shall continue to have the right, power, and
222authority to levy annually special assessments against the
223taxable real estate within the district to provide funds for the
224purposes of the district, in an amount not to exceed the limit
225provided in chapter 191, Florida Statutes.
226     (3)  The methods for assessing and collecting special
227assessments, fees, or service charges shall be as set forth in
228this act and chapters 170, 189, 191, and 197, Florida Statutes.
229     (4)  The district shall levy and collect special
230assessments in accordance with chapter 200, Florida Statutes, as
231amended from time to time.
232     (5)  The district is authorized to levy and enforce special
233assessments in accordance with chapters 170, 189, 191, and 197,
234Florida Statutes.
235     (6)  The district's planning requirements shall be as set
236forth in this act and chapters 189 and 191, Florida Statutes.
237     (7)  Requirements for financial disclosure, meeting
238notices, reporting, public records maintenance, and per diem
239expenses for officers and employees shall be as set forth in
240this act and chapters 112, 119, 189, 191, and 286, Florida
241Statutes.
242     Section 6.  Impact fees.--
243     (1)  Pursuant to section 191.009(4), Florida Statutes, it
244is hereby declared that the cost of new facilities upon fire
245protection and emergency services should be borne by new users
246of the district's services to the extent new construction
247requires new facilities, but only to that extent. It is the
248legislative intent of this section to transfer to the new users
249of the district's fire protection and emergency services a fair
250share of the costs that new users impose on the district for new
251facilities. This shall only apply in the event that the general
252purpose local government in which the district is located has
253not adopted an impact fee for fire services that is distributed
254to the district for construction within its jurisdictional
255boundaries.
256     (2)  The impact fees collected by the district pursuant to
257this section shall be kept as a separate fund from other
258revenues of the district and shall be used exclusively for the
259acquisition, purchase, or construction of new facilities or
260portions thereof required to provide fire protection and
261emergency services to new construction. "New facilities" means
262land, buildings, and capital equipment, including, but not
263limited to, fire and emergency vehicles and radio telemetry
264equipment. The fees shall not be used for the acquisition,
265purchase, or construction of facilities that must be obtained in
266any event, regardless of growth within the district. The board
267of fire commissioners shall maintain adequate records to ensure
268that impact fees are expended only for permissible new
269facilities.
270     Section 7.  Special assessments.--
271     (1)  The board shall have the right, power, and authority
272to levy special assessments against the taxable real estate
273within the district to provide funds for the purposes of the
274district.
275     (2)(a)  The annual rate of the special assessment for a
276residence will be $25.
277     (b)  The annual rates of the special assessments for
278nonresidential property shall be as follows:
279     1.  Commercial property:  $0.04 per square foot.
280     2.  Industrial/warehouse property:  $0.01 per square foot.
281     3.  Institutional property:  $0.05 per square foot.
282     (c)  Any increase in the special assessments must be
283approved by a majority of the electors within the Glendale Fire
284District.
285     (3)  It is the legislative intent that this act shall
286authorize the Walton County Property Appraiser and the Walton
287County Tax Collector to take all appropriate action to comply
288with the intent and the purpose of this act.
289     (4)  It is also the legislative intent that the board of
290commissioners shall be a vehicle to provide funding to
291accomplish the purposes set out in this act.
292     Section 8.  Property appraiser.--
293     (1)  The Walton County Property Appraiser shall furnish the
294commissioners a tax roll covering all taxable properties within
295the district on or before July 1 of each year.
296     (2)  The Walton County Property Appraiser shall include in
297the Walton County tax roll the assessments made by the board,
298and the same shall be collected in the manner as provided for by
299this act and paid over by the Walton County Tax Collector to the
300board.
301     (3)  The Walton County Property Appraiser shall be
302reimbursed for assessing such special assessments in the manner
303and amount authorized by general law, and the Walton County Tax
304Collector shall receive a commission or fee of 3 percent for
305collection of such special assessments.
306     Section 9.  Special assessment as a lien.--The special
307assessment levied and assessed by the district shall be a lien
308upon the property so assessed along with the county taxes
309assessed against such property until said assessments and taxes
310have been paid, and if the special assessment levied by the
311district becomes delinquent, such special assessment shall be
312considered a part of the county tax subject to the same
313penalties, charges, fees, and remedies for enforcement and
314collection of such taxes.
315     Section 10.  Deposit of special assessments; fees;
316authority to disburse funds.--
317     (1)  The proceeds of the assessments and funds of the
318district shall be deposited in qualified public depositories, in
319accordance with chapters 191 and 280, Florida Statutes, as they
320may be amended from time to time, in the name of the district in
321a bank authorized to receive deposits of district funds. The
322bank shall be designated by a resolution of the board.
323     (2)  All warrants for the payment of labor, equipment, and
324other expenses of the board, and in carrying into effect this
325act and the purposes thereof, shall be payable by the treasurer
326of the board on accounts and vouchers approved and authorized by
327the board. No funds of the district shall be paid out or
328disbursed except by check signed by the treasurer of the board
329and either the chair or vice chair of the board.
330     Section 11.  Authority to borrow money.--
331     (1)  The board of commissioners shall have the power and
332authority to borrow money or issue other evidences of
333indebtedness for the purpose of the district in accordance with
334chapters 189 and 191, Florida Statutes, provided that the total
335payments in any one year, including principal and interest, on
336any indebtedness incurred by the district shall not exceed 50
337percent of the total estimated annual budgeted revenues of the
338district.
339     (2)  The board of commissioners, board of directors as a
340body, or any of the members of either board as individuals shall
341not be personally or individually liable for the repayment of
342such loan. Such repayment shall be made out of the special
343assessment receipts of the district, except as provided in this
344subsection. The commissioners shall not create any indebtedness
345or incur obligations for any sum or amount that they are unable
346to repay out of district funds available to them at that time,
347except as otherwise provided in this act; however, the
348commissioners may make purchases of equipment on an installment
349basis as necessary if funds are available for the payment of the
350current year's installment on such equipment and the amount due
351in that year of any of the installments and the repayment of any
352bank loan or other existing indebtedness that may be due that
353year.
354     Section 12.  Use of district funds.--No funds of the
355district shall be used for any purposes other than the
356administration of the affairs and business of the district; the
357construction, care, maintenance, upkeep, operation, and purchase
358of firefighting and rescue equipment or a fire station; the
359payment of public utilities; and the payment of salaries of
360district personnel as the board may from time to time determine
361to be necessary for the operations and effectiveness of the
362district.
363     Section 13.  Record of board meetings; authority to adopt
364rules and regulations; annual reports; budget.--
365     (1)  A record shall be kept of all meetings of the board,
366and in such meetings concurrence of a majority of the
367commissioners present shall be necessary to any affirmative
368action by the board.
369     (2)  The board shall have the authority to adopt and amend
370policies and regulations for the administration of the affairs
371of the district under the terms of this act and chapters 189 and
372191, Florida Statutes, which shall include, but not be limited
373to, the authority to adopt the necessary rules and regulations
374for the administration and supervision of the property and
375personnel of the district; for the prevention of fires, fire
376control, fire hydrant placement, and flow testing in accordance
377with current NFPA rules; and for rescue work within the
378district. Said commissioners shall have all the lawful power and
379authority necessary to carry out the purposes of said fire
380district; to purchase all necessary real and personal property;
381to purchase and carry standard insurance policies on all such
382equipment; to employ such personnel as may be necessary to carry
383out the purposes of said fire district; to provide adequate
384insurance for said employees; to purchase and carry appropriate
385insurance for protection of all firefighters and personnel as
386well as all equipment and personal property on loan to the
387district; to sell surplus real and personal property in the same
388manner and subject to the same restrictions as provided for such
389sales by counties; to enter into contracts with qualified
390service providers, the Glendale Fire District of Walton County,
391other fire departments, municipalities, and state and federal
392governmental units for the purpose of obtaining financial aid;
393and for otherwise carrying out the purposes of the district. The
394commissioners shall adopt a fiscal year for said fire district,
395which shall be October 1 to September 30.
396     (3)  Any policies, rules, and regulations adopted and made
397by the board shall have the force and effect of law after copies
398thereof, signed by the secretary and chair or vice chair, are
399posted in three public places within the district in conspicuous
400locations and advertised by title once per week for 2
401consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general paid circulation in
402the district.
403     (4)  The board shall, on or before November 1, make an
404annual report of its actions and accounting of its funds as of
405September of that year and shall file said report in the Office
406of the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Walton County, whose duty
407it shall be to receive and file said report and hold and keep
408the same as a public record.
409     (5)  For the purposes of carrying into effect this act, the
410board shall annually prepare, consider, and adopt a district
411budget pursuant to the applicable requirements of chapters 189
412and 191, Florida Statutes. The board shall, at the same time as
413it makes its annual report, file its estimated budget for the
414fiscal year beginning October 1, which budget shall show the
415estimated revenue to be received by the district and the
416estimated expenditures to be incurred by the district in
417carrying out its operations.
418     Section 14.  Authority to enact fire prevention ordinances;
419appoint fire chief, acquire land, enter contracts, establish
420salaries, general and special powers; authority to provide
421emergency medical and rescue services.--
422     (1)  The board of commissioners shall have the right and
423power to enact fire prevention ordinances in the same manner
424provided for the adoption of policies and regulations in
425subsection (2) of section 13, and when the provisions of such
426fire prevention ordinances are determined by the board to be
427violated, the office of the state attorney, upon written notice
428of such violation issued by the board, is authorized to
429prosecute such person or persons held to be in violation
430thereof. Any person found guilty of a violation may be punished
431as provided in chapter 775, Florida Statutes, as a misdemeanor
432of the second degree. The cost of such prosecution shall be paid
433out of district funds, unless otherwise provided by law.
434     (2)  The board shall have the power to appoint a fire
435chief, who shall be a person experienced in all types of
436firefighting and fire prevention and who shall work with the
437State Fire Marshal in which the district is situated in the
438prevention of fires of all types. The district fire chief shall
439be authorized to enter, at all reasonable hours, any building or
440premises for the purpose of making any inspection or
441investigation that the State Fire Marshal is authorized to make
442pursuant to state law and regulation. The owner, lessee,
443manager, or operator of any building or premises shall permit
444the district fire chief to enter and inspect the building or
445premises at all reasonable hours. The district fire chief shall
446report any violations of state firesafety laws or regulations to
447the appropriate officials.
448     (3)  The board shall have the power to acquire, by gift or
449purchase, lands or rights in lands and any other property, real
450and personal, tangible or intangible, necessary, desirable, or
451convenient for carrying out the purposes of the district and to
452pay any and all costs of same out of the funds of the district,
453provided that prior to the acquisition of the location of a fire
454station site, an appropriate investigation shall be conducted
455that shall include, but not be limited to, obtaining the staff
456recommendation of the Walton County Planning Department.
457     (4)  The board shall have the power to enter into contracts
458or to otherwise join with the Glendale Fire District of Walton
459County, or to otherwise join with any other district, city, or
460town, the United States of America, or any agency or authority
461thereof, for the purpose of expanding services, providing
462effective aid, and accomplishing and carrying out the purposes
463for which the district was created and for the further purpose
464of specifically obtaining financial aid, assistance, or subsidy.
465     (5)  The salaries of fire department personnel and any
466other wages shall be determined by the board.
467     (6)  The district is authorized to establish and maintain
468emergency medical and rescue response services and acquire and
469maintain rescue, medical, and other emergency equipment, subject
470to the provisions of chapter 401, Florida Statutes.
471     Section 15.  Annexations.--If any municipality or other
472fire control district annexes any land included in the district,
473such annexation shall follow the procedures set forth in section
474171.093, Florida Statutes, as amended from time to time.
475     Section 16.  Dissolution.--The district shall exist until
476dissolved in the same manner as it was created. If the Glendale
477Fire District of Walton County is dissolved or ceases to exist
478for any reason, or if the board determines that the Glendale
479Fire District of Walton County is unable to carry out its
480objectives as stated in subsection (2) of section 2 or the
481district's published policies, the board shall in its discretion
482make arrangements for other means of providing fire protection
483and rescue services.
484     Section 17.  Immunity from tort liability.--
485     (1)  The district and its officers, agents, and employees
486shall have the same immunity from tort liability as other
487agencies and subdivisions of the state. The provisions of
488chapter 768, Florida Statutes, as from time to time amended,
489shall apply to all claims asserted against the district.
490     (2)  The district commissioners and all officers, agents,
491and employees of the district shall have the same immunity and
492exemption from personal liability as is provided by general law
493for state, county, and municipal officers.
494     (3)  The district shall defend all claims against the
495commissioners, officers, agents, and employees that arise within
496the scope of employment or purposes of the district and shall
497pay all judgments against said persons, except where said
498persons acted in bad faith or with malicious purpose or in a
499manner exhibiting wanton and willful disregard of human rights,
500safety, or property.
501     Section 18.  District expansion.--
502     (1)  The district boundaries may be extended from time to
503time as follows:
504     (a)  Land contiguous to the boundaries of the district in
505unincorporated Walton County may be included in the district
506when petition for inclusion signed and sworn to by a majority of
507the owners of the real property within the tract or tracts to be
508included in the district has been presented to the board of
509commissioners and the proposal has been approved by the
510affirmative vote of no fewer than three members of the board of
511commissioners at a regular meeting.
512     (b)  The petition must contain the legal description of the
513property sought to be added to the district and the names and
514addresses of the owners of the property.
515     (2)  If a proposal to add an area to the district as
516described in subsection (1) is approved by the affirmative vote
517of no fewer than three members of the board of commissioners at
518a regular meeting, the board of commissioners shall thereafter
519adopt a resolution describing the lands to be included within
520the district and shall cause such resolution to be duly enrolled
521in the record of the meeting and a certified copy of the
522resolution to be recorded in the Office of the Clerk of the
523Circuit Court of Walton County.
524     (3)  Upon adoption of the resolution by the board, the
525district shall, pursuant to chapter 191, Florida Statutes,
526request that its legislative delegation approve said addition
527and sponsor legislation amending the district boundary. Upon
528approval by the Legislature, the boundary shall be amended.
529     Section 19.  Construction.--This act shall be construed as
530remedial and shall be liberally construed to promote the purpose
531for which it is intended.
532     Section 20.  Effect.--In the event that any part of this
533act should be held void for any reason, such holding shall not
534affect any other part thereof.
535     Section 21.  On or before December 30, 2006, the Board of
536County Commissioners of Walton County shall call and the
537Supervisor of Elections of Walton County shall conduct a
538referendum of the qualified voters of the Glendale Fire District
539on the question of whether the Glendale Fire District shall be
540created by special act of the Legislature with authority to
541impose impact fees pursuant to section 6 of this act and special
542assessments pursuant to section 7 of this act.
543     Section 22.  This act shall take effect only if a majority
544of those qualified electors of the Glendale Fire District voting
545in a referendum held pursuant to this act approve the referendum
546question in accordance with section 21, except that this section
547and section 21 shall take effect upon becoming a law.


CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.