HBA-LCA H.B. 1316 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1316
By: Bailey
Urban Affairs
3/30/1999
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Subchapter G, Chapter 143, Local Government Code, establishes civil service
requirements for fire fighters and police officers in a city with a
population of more than 1.5 million that  has adopted the Fire Fighter and
Police Officer Civil Service Act.  Currently, the City of Houston is the
only city in Texas affected by Subchapter G. 

Houston fire fighters or police officers hired before September 1, 1985,
were given a one-time election to choose whether to accumulate sick leave
under the state Civil Service Act or under the City of Houston's municipal
sick leave policy.  H.B. 1316 allows a fire fighter or police officer who
initially selected coverage under the Houston plan to receive sick leave
benefits under state law. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Sections 143.116(d) and (e), Local Government Code, as
follows: 

(d)  Entitles a fire fighter or police officer hired before September 1,
1985,  and who selected coverage under the municipal ordinance governing
sick leave benefits and policy under the one-time option provided by this
subsection, to accumulate without limit sick leave after August 31, 1999.
Provides that sick leave accumulated before August 31, 1999, will be
retained and governed by Subsection (c). 

(e)  Entitles a fire fighter or police officer hired after September 1,
1985, to accumulate without limit sick leave.  Provides that sick leave
accumulated before August 31, 1999, will be retained and governed by
Subsection (c). 

SECTION 2.  Effective date: September 1, 1999.

SECTION 3.  Emergency clause.