HBA-MPA H.B. 1636 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1636
By: Naishtat
Urban Affairs
3/9/1999
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, the law allows a city with a population over 10,000 to deduct
employee association dues from the paychecks of employees who voluntarily
request it.  H.B. 1636 requires cities with a population over 50,000 to
make dues deductions if the employee submits a written request.  The city
is allowed to discontinue the deduction after one year upon conducting a
public hearing and giving reasons for its decision. 

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 the heading of Section 141.008, Local Government Code,
as follows: 

Sec. 141.008. New title:  PAYROLL DEDUCTIONS PERMITTED IN CERTAIN
MUNICIPALITIES. 

SECTION 2.  Amends Section 141.008(a), Local Government Code, to limit the
type of employee's association described in this subsection to one that
does not claim the right to strike.  Applies the restriction to the
authorization of the governing body of a municipality with a population of
more than 10,000 to deduct from an employee's salary or wages an amount
authorized in writing by the employee in payment of membership dues to an
employees' association, named by the employee. 

SECTION 3.  Amends Subchapter A, Chapter 141, Local Government Code, by
adding Section 141.0081, as follows: 

Sec. 141.0081.  PAYROLL DEDUCTIONS REQUIRED IN CERTAIN MUNICIPALITIES. (a)
Requires the governing body of a municipality with a population over 50,000
to deduct from an employee's salary or wages an amount authorized in
writing by the employee in payment of membership dues to an employees'
association, named by the employee, that does not claim the right to
strike, if the municipality permits deductions for a purpose other than
payment for a charitable purpose, health insurance, taxes, or a deduction
required by law. 

(b) Provides that Sections 141.008(b)-(e), Local Government Code, apply to
payroll deductions made under this section. 

(c) Authorizes the municipality to discontinue making payroll deductions
under this section, on or after the first anniversary of the date the
municipality starts making deductions, if the governing body finds, after a
public hearing, that the requirement to make payroll deductions is not
serving the best interests of the municipality and provides specific
reasons for its conclusion. 

SECTION 4.Emergency clause.
  Effective date: upon passage.