191.001 – Short Title.
191.001 Short title.—Sections 191.001-191.014 may be cited as the “Independent Special Fire Control District Act.” History.—s. 1, ch. 97-256.
191.002 – Legislative Intent.
191.002 Legislative intent.—The purposes of this act are to: (1) Provide standards, direction, and procedures concerning the operations and governance of independent special fire control districts. (2) Provide greater uniformity in independent special fire control district operations and authority. (3) Provide greater uniformity in the financing authority of independent special fire control districts without hampering the efficiency and effectiveness […]
191.003 – Definitions.
191.003 Definitions.—As used in this act: (1) “Board” means the governing board of a district. (2) “District” means an independent special fire control district as provided in this act. (3) “Elector” means a person who is a resident of the district and is qualified to vote in a general election within the local general-purpose government jurisdiction in which the […]
191.004 – Preemption of Special Acts and General Acts of Local Application.
191.004 Preemption of special acts and general acts of local application.—Each district, regardless of any other, more specific provision of any special act or general law of local application creating the charter of the district, shall comply with this act. It is the intent of the Legislature that the provisions of this act supersede all special […]
191.005 – District Boards of Commissioners; Membership, Officers, Meetings.
191.005 District boards of commissioners; membership, officers, meetings.— (1)(a) With the exception of districts whose governing boards are appointed collectively by the Governor, the county commission, and any cooperating city within the county, the business affairs of each district shall be conducted and administered by a five-member board. All three-member boards existing on the effective date of […]
191.006 – General Powers.
191.006 General powers.—The district shall have, and the board may exercise by majority vote, the following powers: (1) To sue and be sued in the name of the district, to adopt and use a seal and authorize the use of a facsimile thereof, and to make and execute contracts and other instruments necessary or convenient to the […]
191.007 – Exemption From Taxation.
191.007 Exemption from taxation.—Since the exercise of the powers conferred by this act constitutes action by a political subdivision performing essential public functions and since the property of each district constitutes public property used for public purposes, all assets and properties of each district, including property acquired through the foreclosure of any tax or assessment lien, […]
191.008 – Special Powers.
191.008 Special powers.—Independent special fire control districts shall provide for fire suppression and prevention by establishing and maintaining fire stations and fire substations and acquiring and maintaining such firefighting and fire protection equipment deemed necessary to prevent or fight fires. All construction shall be in compliance with applicable state, regional, and local regulations, including adopted comprehensive […]
191.009 – Taxes; Non-Ad Valorem Assessments; Impact Fees and User Charges.
191.009 Taxes; non-ad valorem assessments; impact fees and user charges.— (1) AD VALOREM TAXES.—An elected board may levy and assess ad valorem taxes on all taxable property in the district to construct, operate, and maintain district facilities and services, to pay the principal of, and interest on, general obligation bonds of the district, and to provide for […]
191.011 – Procedures for the Levy and Collection of Non-Ad Valorem Assessments.
191.011 Procedures for the levy and collection of non-ad valorem assessments.— (1) A district may provide for the levy of non-ad valorem assessments under this act on the lands within the district for the exercise of the powers authorized by this act, or any part thereof, for all or any part of the cost thereof. The district […]
191.012 – District Issuance of Bonds, Notes, Bond Anticipation Notes, or Other Evidences of Indebtedness.
191.012 District issuance of bonds, notes, bond anticipation notes, or other evidences of indebtedness.— (1) A district may issue general obligation bonds, assessment bonds, revenue bonds, notes, bond anticipation notes, or other evidences of indebtedness to finance all or a part of any proposed improvements authorized to be undertaken under this act or under general or special […]
191.013 – Intergovernmental Coordination.
191.013 Intergovernmental coordination.— (1) The fire chiefs of each county are urged to organize and meet as a county fire chiefs’ association to coordinate the planning and activities of all entities that provide fire protection and suppression services. The association may elect officers and meet at least biannually. (2) Each independent special fire control district shall adopt a […]
191.014 – District Creation and Expansion.
191.014 District creation and expansion.— (1) New districts may be created only by the Legislature under s. 189.031. (2) The boundaries of a district may be modified, extended, or enlarged upon approval or ratification by the Legislature. History.—s. 13, ch. 97-256; s. 2, ch. 2012-16; s. 75, ch. 2014-22.
191.015 – Codification.
191.015 Codification.—Each fire control district existing on the effective date of this section, by December 1, 2004, shall submit to the Legislature a draft codified charter, at its expense, so that its special acts may be codified into a single act for reenactment by the Legislature, if there is more than one special act for the […]