H*3486 Session 103 (1979-1980)
H*3486(Rat #0549, Act #0592 of 1980) General Bill, By M.E. Nunnery
A Bill to create the Fort Lawn Fire District in Chester County; to provide for
a Fire Control Commission for the District; to prescribe the powers, duties
and membership of the Commission; to provide for tax levies; and to provide
penalties for certain violations.
02/12/80 House Introduced, read first time, placed on calendar
without reference HJ-872
02/13/80 House Read second time HJ-891
02/14/80 House Debate adjourned HJ-939
02/19/80 House Debate adjourned HJ-974
02/20/80 House Read third time and sent to Senate HJ-1021
02/21/80 Senate INTD. & PLACED ON LOC. & UNCONTESTED CAL. W/O
REFERENCE SJ-12
05/27/80 Senate Read second time SJ-25
05/28/80 Senate Read third time and enrolled SJ-32
05/29/80 House Ratified R 549 HJ-3394
06/04/80 Vetoed by Governor
06/04/80 House VETO MESSAGE RECEIVED HJ-3605
06/05/80 House Veto overridden by originating body Yeas-64
Nays-5 HJ-3634
06/05/80 Senate VETO MESSAGE RECEIVED SJ-30
06/05/80 Senate Veto overridden YEAS 25 NAYS 0 SJ-30
06/05/80 Effective date 06/05/80
06/05/80 Act No. 592
06/17/80 Copies available
(A592, R549, H3486)
AN ACT TO CREATE THE FORT LAWN FIRE DISTRICT IN CHESTER COUNTY; TO PROVIDE FOR
A FIRE CONTROL COMMISSION FOR THE DISTRICT; TO PRESCRIBE THE POWERS, DUTIES
AND MEMBERSHIP OF THE COMMISSION; TO PROVIDE FOR TAX LEVIES; AND TO PROVIDE
PENALTIES FOR CERTAIN VIOLATIONS.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
Fort Lawn Fire District created
Section 1. There is hereby created the Fort Lawn Fire District in Chester
County which shall include all that area lying within a radius of three miles
measured from the center of the Town of Fort Lawn, a description of which
shall be filed in the office of the Clerk of Court for Chester County.
Commission established
Section 2. There shall be established a fire control commission to be
composed of five members to be appointed by the Governor; two of whom shall be
appointed upon the recommendation of the county legislative delegation,
including the House member, and two of whom shall be appointed on the
recommendation of the Fort Lawn municipal council, but not a member of the
municipal council, and the fifth shall be recommended by the majority of the
aforementioned four appointees. The terms of office shall be four years;
provided, however, that initially one of the delegation appointees and one of
the municipal council appointees shall serve a term of two years.
Officers of commission
Section 3. The commission shall organize by electing a chairman,
vice-chairman, secretary and treasurer who shall serve in their respective
offices for a period of two years. The commission shall investigate the
feasibility of operating a system of fire protection within the district by
studying operational costs, capital costs and benefits to the residents of the
district. The commission shall seek to negotiate a contract with the Town of
Fort Lawn for providing fire service within the district. Upon the completion
of the study, a report of the commission shall be made to the Chester County
Council and such report shall contain a recommendation of the commission as to
the commission's opinion as to the feasibility of the fire district becoming
functional or recommending that it is not found feasible for it to become
functional. In the event the commission recommends the fire district to become
functional and that the commission assume responsibility for fire protection
in the district, the commission shall submit to the County Council a proposed
budget and a proposed plan of operation which shall include a proposed
contract of operation with the Town of Fort Lawn which will have been mutually
agreed upon, and a request for the approval of sufficient tax millage by
County Council to finance the costs of such fire protection in the district.
The County Council shall be responsible for approving all tax assessments
within the district for fire protection purposes.
Commission charged with fire protection
Section 4. Upon the approval of a tax levy by the County Council, the
commission will be charged with the responsibility of fire protection in the
area within the district and shall have the following powers:
(1) To contract with the Town of Fort Lawn for providing fire services
within the district.
(2) With the approval of the County Council, to borrow money in anticipation
of taxes pledging the full faith and taxing power of the district for payment
of such indebtedness.
(3) To do such other things as may be necessary to carry out the
responsibility of providing fire protection within the district.
Commission may levy taxes
Section 5. The commission shall have the authority to levy taxes
on all taxable property within the district; provided, that such levy can only
be for the purposes of fire protection and the auditor and treasurer of
Chester County shall not levy and collect such tax without the approval of the
majority of the Chester County Council.
Prohibition on tax levy
Section 6. After a district tax levy is approved, notwithstanding
any other provision of law, no other municipality or special purpose district
shall levy a tax against the property within the Fort Lawn Fire District for
the purpose of fire protection.
Time effective
Section 7. This act shall take effect upon approval by the Governor. |