SB485 Alabama 2010 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Harri Anne Smith

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2010

Title

Geneva Co., fire districts, establishment authorized after referendum, maintenance, board members, fire protection fee, dissolution

Summary

SB485 lets Geneva County voters create fire districts after referendum to provide fire protection, govern them as public corporations with elected boards, fund operations through a fire protection fee, and dissolve them if approved.

What This Bill Does

The act allows areas within Geneva County to form a fire district after a petition and a majority vote by local electors, and the district becomes a public corporation. It establishes a seven-member district board (initially drawn from existing volunteer fire departments) with four-year terms. The district may levy service charges or fees to cover its costs and may pledge revenues or encumber property to secure its obligations, with collection handled like ad valorem taxes. Fees are set at a uniform rate on dwellings and most commercial buildings, and 1% of the fee is allocated to the Geneva County Forestry Commission and another 1% to the Geneva County Volunteer Firefighters Association; the district can be dissolved by a voter election, with assets going to the Firefighters Association if there is no debt.

Who It Affects

• Residents and property owners in Geneva County within the proposed district who would pay the fire protection fee for district services.
• Geneva County Forestry Commission and Geneva County Volunteer Firefighters Association, which receive portions of the fire protection fee to fund their fire-related duties.

Key Provisions

• Areas within Geneva County may form a fire district by petition and majority vote; the district becomes a public corporation.
• Initial seven-member board drawn from the existing volunteer fire departments; members must be qualified electors who reside in the district and are over 21; four-year terms with staggered initial terms; board elected at annual meetings by district residents.
• The district can sue or be sued, acquire and dispose of property, operate and improve fire suppression systems, pledge revenues or mortgage property to secure obligations, and enter contracts or mutual aid agreements with other entities.
• The district may levy service charges or fees to fund operations, with enforcement and collection rules similar to ad valorem taxes; late fees and attorney fees may apply for nonpayment.
• Fee structure defines and distinguishes 'dwelling' and 'commercial building' for the purpose of the charge; certain structures (like utility poles, substations, schools, churches, etc.) are excluded from the commercial-building category.
• Allocations require that 1% of the fire protection fee go to the Geneva County Forestry Commission and 1% to the Geneva County Volunteer Firefighters Association; the remainder funds district operations.
• Dissolution is allowed but not if the district has outstanding indebtedness; upon abolition, assets and equipment go to the Geneva County Volunteer Firefighters Association; a petition with at least 100 electors is required to initiate dissolution, and an election governs the outcome.
• Municipal land within the district cannot be included unless the municipality adopts a resolution; municipalities may still provide fire protection within their own limits.
• The act applies only to Geneva County and becomes effective immediately upon passage and approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 25, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Geneva County