BILL ANALYSIS C.S.H.B. 1685 By: Hirschi May 2, 1995 Committee Report (Substituted) BACKGROUND According to the Local Government Code, if a position in the Police or Fire Department is abolished, the police officer or fire fighter holding that position receives a demotion. This demotion may force the officer or fire fighter to accept a loss in pay and seniority and places him on a reinstatement list for a period of one year. If a position opens or is recreated within one year of the demotion, then the demoted officer or fire fighter will be reinstated to that position. This reinstatement will not occur if a position opens after this one year period and the officer or fire fighter will remain in the position to which he was demoted. PURPOSE As proposed, C.S.H.B. 1685 extends the reinstatement period from one year to three years. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency or institution. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 143.085(a), Local Government Code, by extending reinstatement period to three years. Section 2. Effective Date Section 3. Emergency Clause. COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE The substitute replaces the indefinite reinstatement period contained in the original with a reinstatement period of three years. SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE ACTION HB 1685 was considered by the committee in a public hearing on May 1, 1995. The committee considered a complete substitute for the bill. The substitute was adopted without objection. The following people testified in favor of the bill: Rep. Hirschi; and Ken Bailey, representing the Texas State Association of Fire Fighters. The bill was reported favorably as substituted, with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed, by a record vote of 7 ayes, 0 nays, 0 pnv, and 2 absent.