By: Gallegos S.B. No. 928
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
1-1 relating to employment as a firefighter in certain municipalities.
1-2 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-3 SECTION 1. Subsections (b) and (d), Section 142.0017, Local
1-4 Government Code, are amended to read as follows:
1-5 (b) A fire fighter or fire fighter emergency medical
1-6 personnel may not be required or permitted to work more than an
1-7 average of 46.7 hours a week during a 72-day work cycle designated
1-8 by the department head [calendar year]. If the fire fighter or
1-9 fire fighter emergency medical services employee is required to
1-10 work more than an average of 46.7 hours a week during a 72-day work
1-11 cycle designated by the department head [calendar year], the person
1-12 is entitled to be compensated for the overtime as provided by
1-13 Subsection (f).
1-14 (d) If a majority of the members of the fire department
1-15 working as fire alarm dispatchers sign a written agreement with the
1-16 municipality that allows the municipality to require or permit fire
1-17 alarm dispatchers to average a specified number of hours of work a
1-18 week that is more than the number of hours allowed under Subsection
1-19 (c) but not more than an average of 46.7 hours a week during a
1-20 72-day work cycle designated by the department head, the
1-21 municipality may adopt a work schedule for the members of the fire
1-22 department working as fire alarm dispatchers in accordance with the
1-23 agreement. If under Subsection (f) a member of a fire department
2-1 working as a fire alarm dispatcher is required to work more than
2-2 the number of hours allowed under the agreement, the person is
2-3 entitled to be compensated for the overtime as provided by
2-4 Subsection (f). Each agreement adopted under this subsection
2-5 expires as provided by the agreement, but not later than the first
2-6 anniversary of the date that the agreement takes effect.
2-7 Subsection (c) applies when an agreement adopted under this
2-8 subsection is not in effect.
2-9 SECTION 2. 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,
2-14 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
2-15 passage, and it is so enacted.