By: Barrientos S.B. No. 879 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT 1-1 relating to the composition of the workforce in certain fire 1-2 departments. 1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-4 SECTION 1. Subchapter F, Chapter 143, Local Government Code, 1-5 is amended by adding Section 143.090 to read as follows: 1-6 Sec. 143.090. LOCAL CONTROL OF WORKFORCE COMPOSITION IN 1-7 CERTAIN FIRE DEPARTMENTS. (a) This section applies only to a 1-8 municipality with a population of 250,000 or more. 1-9 (b) A municipality may implement a program to ensure that 1-10 the composition of the workforce of the paid fire fighters in its 1-11 fire department reasonably represents the demographic composition 1-12 of the residents of the municipality. 1-13 (c) The governing body of the municipality and the 1-14 recognized employee association shall ensure that the requirements 1-15 imposed by a program implemented under Subsection (b) are not lower 1-16 than the requirements set by this chapter for the appointment or 1-17 promotion of a paid fire fighter. 1-18 SECTION 2. The importance of this legislation and the 1-19 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 1-20 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 1-21 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 1-22 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended, 1-23 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its 1-24 passage, and it is so enacted.