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.