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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to quarantine leave for certain public safety employees. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 607, Government Code, is amended by |
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adding Subchapter D to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER D. QUARANTINE LEAVE FOR CERTAIN PUBLIC SAFETY EMPLOYEES |
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Sec. 607.151. DEFINITIONS. (a) In this subchapter: |
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(1) "Detention officer" means an individual employed |
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by the state to ensure the safekeeping of prisoners and the security |
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of a state penal institution in this state. |
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(2) "Emergency medical technician" means an |
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individual who is: |
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(A) certified as an emergency medical technician |
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under Chapter 773, Health and Safety Code; and |
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(B) employed by the state. |
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(3) "Firefighter" means a paid employee of the state |
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who: |
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(A) holds a position that requires substantial |
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knowledge of firefighting; |
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(B) has met the requirements for certification by |
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the Texas Commission on Fire Protection under Chapter 419; and |
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(C) performs a function listed in Section |
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143.003(4)(A), Local Government Code. |
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(4) "Health authority" has the meaning assigned by |
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Section 121.021, Health and Safety Code. |
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(5) "Ordered to quarantine or isolate" means any |
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circumstance in which a person is not permitted to continue working |
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due to: |
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(A) a written or verbal directive by a health |
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authority or the employee's supervisor ordering the person to |
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refrain from reporting to duty after displaying symptoms of a |
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communicable disease; or |
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(B) a written or verbal directive by a health |
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authority or the employee's supervisor ordering the person to |
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refrain from reporting to duty after being exposed to a |
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communicable disease that is a presumptive illness under this |
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chapter. |
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(6) "Peace officer" means an individual described by |
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Article 2.12, Code of Criminal Procedure, who is elected for, |
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employed by, or appointed by the state. |
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(b) Notwithstanding Section 607.001, in this subchapter, |
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"public safety employee" means a detention officer, emergency |
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medical technician, firefighter, or peace officer. |
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Sec. 607.152. PAID QUARANTINE LEAVE FOR CERTAIN PUBLIC |
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SAFETY EMPLOYEES. (a) A state agency that employs public safety |
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employees shall develop and implement a paid quarantine leave |
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policy for public safety employees who are ordered to quarantine or |
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isolate. |
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(b) A paid quarantine leave policy must provide that a |
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public safety employee ordered to quarantine or isolate receive: |
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(1) all employment benefits and compensation, |
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including leave accrual, pension benefits, and health benefit plan |
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benefits for the duration of the leave; and |
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(2) reimbursement for reasonable costs related to the |
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quarantine, including lodging, medical, and transportation. |
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(c) The state agency may not reduce a public safety |
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employee's sick leave balance, vacation leave balance, or other |
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paid leave balance in connection with paid quarantine leave taken |
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in accordance with a policy adopted under this section. |
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SECTION 2. Section 180.008(a), Local Government Code, as |
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added by Chapter 685 (H.B. 2073), Acts of the 87th Legislature, |
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Regular Session, 2021, is amended by adding Subdivision (4-a) to |
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read as follows: |
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(4-a) "Ordered to quarantine or isolate" means any |
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circumstance in which a person is not permitted to continue working |
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due to: |
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(A) a written or verbal directive by a health |
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authority or the employee's supervisor ordering the person to |
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refrain from reporting to duty after displaying symptoms of a |
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communicable disease; or |
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(B) a written or verbal directive by a health |
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authority or the employee's supervisor ordering the person to |
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refrain from reporting to duty after being exposed to a |
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communicable disease that is a presumptive illness under this |
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chapter. |
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SECTION 3. Section 180.008(b), Local Government Code, as |
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added by Chapter 685 (H.B. 2073), Acts of the 87th Legislature, |
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Regular Session, 2021, is amended to read as follows: |
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(b) The governing body of a political subdivision shall |
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develop and implement a paid quarantine leave policy for fire |
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fighters, peace officers, detention officers, and emergency |
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medical technicians who are employed by, appointed by, or elected |
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for the political subdivision and ordered to quarantine or isolate |
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[due to a possible or known exposure to a communicable disease while |
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on duty]. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |