BILL ANALYSIS


                                                         S.B. 543
                                                     By: Gallegos
                                      Intergovernmental Relations
                                                         03-30-95
                                     Committee Report (Unamended)
BACKGROUND

The 70th Legislature added Article 1269j-14, V.T.C.S., and which
was recodified in the 71st Legislature and placed in the Local
Government Code as Section 150.021.  This section provided that no
municipality may require residency within the United States as a
condition of employment, but did allow the governing body of a
municipality to prescribe reasonable standards with respect to the
time within which municipal employees who reside outside the
municipal limits must respond to a civil emergency.  The definition
of "reasonable standards" was not addressed by the 71st
Legislature.

PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 543 prohibits a requirement that municipal
employees residing outside the municipal limits respond to civil
emergencies within the municipal limits within one hour or earlier
after notice of the emergency.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not grant any
additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or
agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 150.021(c), Local Government Code, to
prohibit an adopted standard to require an employee, in responding
to a civil emergency, to come within the municipal limits within
one hour or earlier after notice of the emergency, if the employee
is travelling at posted speed limits and is obeying all traffic
regulations.

SECTION 2. Emergency clause.
           Effective date: upon passage.