JH S.B. 336 75(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


URBAN AFFAIRS
S.B. 336
By: Gallegos (Tillery)
5-13-97
Committee Report (Unamended)



BACKGROUND 

Currently, Texas has no formalized process to facilitate change or
improvements in working conditions for fire fighters with the exception of
the adoption of Chapter 174, Local Government Code. The associations that
represent Texas fire fighters have used a method with set procedures,
which has been informally accepted by both city management and fire
fighters. S.B. 336 would set forth certain conditions of employment for
fire fighters in Texas. 

PURPOSE

S.B. 336 outlines provisions regarding the right of fire fighters to meet
and confer. 

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 Title 5C, Local Government Code, by adding Chapter 176,
as follows: 
CHAPTER 176. FIRE FIGHTERS RELATIONS
Sec. 176.001. SHORT TITLE: Fire Fighters Relations Act.
Sec. 176.002. POLICY. Sets forth the policy of the State of Texas
regarding fire fighters' rights. Sets forth the policy of the State of
Texas regarding the recognition of a fire fighters organization by a
public employer. 
Sec. 176.003. LOCAL CONTROL. Sets forth requirements and prohibitions
regarding a public employer and fire fighters under the provisions of this
chapter. 
Sec. 176.004. DEFINITIONS. Defines "fire fighters association," "public
employer," and "written agreement." 
Sec. 176.005. RECOGNITION OF FIRE FIGHTERS ASSOCIATION. Sets forth the
requirements of a fire fighters association. Sets forth the requirements
in the event of a question about whether a fire fighters association is
the majority representative of the covered fire fighters. 
Sec. 176.006. OPEN MEETINGS REQUIRED. Requires all deliberations relating
to an agreement between a fire fighters association and a public employer
to be open to the public and comply with other state law. 
Sec. 176.007. ENFORCEABILITY OF AGREEMENT. Sets forth the instances in
which a written agreement made under this chapter is enforceable and
binding on the public employer, the fire fighters association, and the
public employees covered by the written agreement. Sets forth the
authorizations of the state district court of the judicial district in
which the municipality is located. 

SECTION 2. Effective date September 1, 1997.

SECTION 3. Emergency clause.