Bill not drafted by TLC or Senate E&E.

      Line and page numbers may not match official copy.

         By:  Gallegos                                 S.B. No. 396

                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

                                       AN ACT

 1-1     relating to meet and confer agreements for fire fighters covered by

 1-2     Subchapter H, Chapter 143, Local Government Code.

 1-3           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

 1-4           SECTION 1.  Section 143.207(c) Local Government Code, is

 1-5     amended to read as follows:

 1-6           (c)  An agreement under this Subchapter may not diminish or

 1-7     qualify any right, benefit, or privilege of an employee under this

 1-8     Chapter or other law unless approved by a [majority vote by] secret

 1-9     ballot election of the members of the firefighter's association

1-10     recognized as the sole and exclusive bargaining agent.  The

1-11     agreement is approved if a majority of the votes actually received

1-12     in the election are in favor of adoption of the agreement.

1-13           SECTION 2.  This act takes effect June 3, 1997.

1-14           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the

1-15     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

1-16     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

1-17     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

1-18     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,

1-19     and that this Act take effect and be in force according to its

1-20     terms, and it is so enacted.