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Senate Bill 1433 |
Senate Author: Madla |
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Effective: Vetoed |
House Sponsor: Rodriguez |
Senate Bill 1433 amends the Local Government Code to add provisions relating to the conditions of employment for firefighters employed either in an emergency services district with a population of 30,000 or more or an entity created by an interlocal agreement between two or more political subdivisions. The bill does not apply to a volunteer fire department. The bill includes provisions entitling firefighters in these districts or entities to longevity and classification pay, payroll deductions, certain benefits, and working conditions similar to those afforded firefighters employed by a municipality and establishing procedures for the administration and appeal of disciplinary actions.
Reason Given for Veto: Senate Bill No. 1433 would mandate Emergency Service Districts serving populations of 30,000 or more to provide the same civil service system to their firefighters that cities provide municipal firefighters. Civil service system benefits – including longevity and classification pay – would increase the cost to these districts, and voters would have no ability to vote on the civil service system provided by this bill. Because emergency service districts are more limited in their ability to raise revenue than cities, the districts would face difficulty meeting the increased costs associated with a civil service system.
Furthermore, the bill would require districts that drop below the 30,000 population threshold to continue the civil service system, even though they would have a lower tax base to fund the system. The appeal and grievance procedures required by the bill may result in legal and administrative costs beyond the district’s capability to manage, thus negatively impacting their operation, and that is a concern expressed by emergency service districts about this bill.
It is my intent to work with Emergency Service Districts so that in the 80th legislative session we can provide employment protections for our firefighters while also resolving how to address entities whose populations may drop below the 30,000 threshold.