SRC-JXG S.B. 444 76(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 444
By: Gallegos
Intergovernmental Relations
3/18/1999
As Filed


DIGEST 

Currently, Texas law requires the Fire Fighters' and Police Officers' Civil
Service Commission to provide the classification of all fire fighters and
police officers. The municipality's governing body establishes the
classifications by ordinance. This bill would prohibit a municipality's
governing body from abolishing any classified fire fighter positions,
unless an agreement is reached between the fire fighter's association and
the municipality. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 444 prohibits a municipality's governing body from
abolishing any classified fire fighter position.  

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 143G, Local Government Code, by adding Section
143.1052, as follows: 

Sec. 143.1052. ABOLISHMENT OF CLASSIFIED POSITIONS. (a) Prohibits a
municipality's governing body from abolishing any classified fire fighter
position which existed in the municipality on January 1, 1999, except as
provided in Subsection (c). 

(b) Requires nothing in this section to prevent the municipality's
governing body from establishing additional fire fighter classifications,
or increasing the number of positions from within a classification,
pursuant to Section 143.021. Prohibits such positions, once created, from
thereafter being abolished except as provided in Subsection (c).  

(c) Authorizes a classified position created by the municipality's
governing body by ordinance pursuant to Section 143.021 to be abolished
only by agreement between the fire fighter's association, which is the
exclusive bargaining agent for the municipality's covered fire fighters,
and the municipality made pursuant to Subchapter H. 

SECTION 2. Effective date: June 1, 1999.

SECTION 3. Emergency clause.