Fla. Stat. § 191.001
Short title
Sections 191.001-191.014 may be cited as the “Independent Special Fire Control District Act.”
Florida Statutes Chapter 191 — INDEPENDENT SPECIAL FIRE CONTROL DISTRICTS
Florida · statute · Fla. Stat. ch. 191 · 14 active provisions
Fla. Stat. § 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 aut…
Fla. Stat. § 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 juri…
Fla. Stat. § 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 act or general law of local application provi…
Fla. Stat. § 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…
Fla. Stat. § 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 exercise of its powe…
Fla. Stat. § 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 for…
Fla. Stat. § 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 complianc…
Fla. Stat. § 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 any sinking or other funds esta…
Fla. Stat. § 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 may use any assessment apportionment methodology that meets fair apporti…
Fla. Stat. § 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 law, provided the total annual payments for…
Fla. Stat. § 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 contro…
Fla. Stat. § 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.
Fla. Stat. § 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 district.…