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.

         _______________________________     _______________________________

             President of the Senate              Speaker of the House

               I hereby certify that S.B. No. 928 passed the Senate on

         April 24, 1997, by the following vote:  Yeas 30, Nays 0.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Secretary of the Senate

               I hereby certify that S.B. No. 928 passed the House on

         May 13, 1997, by the following vote:  Yeas 133, Nays 0, one present

         not voting.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Chief Clerk of the House

         Approved:

         _______________________________

                     Date

         _______________________________

                   Governor