By: Ellis S.B. No. 861 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT 1-1 relating to leaves of absence for certain deputy sheriffs. 1-2 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-3 SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 85, Local Government Code, 1-4 is amended by adding Section 85.007 to read as follows: 1-5 Sec. 85.007. LEAVES OF ABSENCE FOR CERTAIN DEPUTY SHERIFFS. 1-6 (a) This section applies only to a sheriff's department in a 1-7 county with a population of 2.8 million or more. 1-8 (b) If a sufficient number of deputy sheriffs of the same 1-9 rank are available to carry out the normal functions of the 1-10 sheriff's department, a deputy sheriff may not on application be 1-11 refused a reasonable leave of absence to attend a police school, 1-12 convention, or meeting if the purpose of the school, convention, or 1-13 meeting is to secure a more efficient department and better working 1-14 conditions for department personnel. 1-15 (c) If a sheriff determines that granting a leave under 1-16 Subsection (b) will result in having an insufficient number of 1-17 deputies of the same rank to carry out the normal functions of the 1-18 department, another deputy of equal rank may volunteer to exchange 1-19 time of work with the applicant if overtime does not result. 1-20 (d) The sheriff shall allow a volunteer under Subsection (c) 1-21 to work for the applicant and shall grant the leave, if overtime 1-22 will not result and if the volunteer work will result in having a 1-23 sufficient number of employees. 1-24 (e) At the option of the deputies, a volunteer under 2-1 Subsection (c) may receive cash from or on behalf of the deputy 2-2 taking leave under this section in lieu of an exchange of time of 2-3 work. 2-4 (f) Leave under this section is not a break in service for 2-5 any purpose and is treated as any other paid leave. 2-6 (g) A sheriff may grant a deputy paid leave under this 2-7 section. 2-8 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 1995. 2-9 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the 2-10 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 2-11 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 2-12 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 2-13 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.