HB681 Summary

• Creates the South Lake Martin Fire District in Elmore and Tallapoosa Counties to provide fire protection and emergency medical services near Lake Martin, supporting the Willow Point/Ourtown Fire District and Windermere Fire District.

• District establishment requires approval by majority vote of qualified property owners in the proposed area, with petition requiring signatures from owners of at least 25 percent of acreage in the district.

• Seven-member board of directors appointed by county commissioners, county legislative delegations, and representatives from the Windermere Fire Chief and Willow Point/Ourtown Fire District, plus one member selected by the other six.

• Authorizes assessment of a "Family and Home Protection fee" on property owners within the district for funding fire protection and emergency medical services, subject to voter approval at referendum.

• District constitutes a public corporation exempt from state and local taxation, with all revenues collected by county revenue commissioners and used for district operations.