SRC-SEW H.B. 2384 77(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 2384
By: Carter (Moncrief)
Intergovernmental Relations
4/27/2001
Engrossed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

In the past, residents of Fort Worth have voted against recognizing a
police or firefighter association as the exclusive bargaining agent of the
city's police officers and firefighters. Recent growth in the city has
placed Fort Worth over the 460,000 person limit at which a municipality is
required to recognize a police officers or firefighters association as the
sole and exclusive bargaining agent of its police officers and firefighters
if a petition calling for that recognition is submitted. H.B. 2384 provides
that certain municipalities that have not recognized a firefighters or
police officers association before September 1, 2001, must receive voter
approval before recognizing an association and operating under the
provisions regarding firefighter and police officer employment matters.  

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

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

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Chapter 143I, Local Government Code, by adding Section
143.3015, as follows: 
 
Sec. 143.3015.  LIMITATION ON MUNICIPALITIES COVERED BY SUBCHAPTER: VOTER
APPROVAL. (a) Requires the governing body of certain municipalities to
receive voter approval under this section before operating under the other
provisions of this subchapter. 
 
  (b)  Requires the governing body to call an election under certain
conditions.   
  
  (c)  Sets forth requirements for a petition for election.  
  
(d)  Requires the municipal secretary, not later than the 40th working day
after the date a petition is presented to the governing body, to certify to
the governing body the number and percentage of registered voters signing
the petition. 
 
(e)  Requires the governing body, upon receiving a petition in compliance
with this subchapter, to order an election submitting to the voters the
question of whether this subchapter should be adopted.  Sets forth
guidelines regarding the date of the election.  
 
(f)  Sets forth guidelines regarding the printing of the ballot for an
election called under this section. 
 
(g)  Requires an election authorized by this section to be held and the
returns to be prepared and canvassed in conformity with the Election Code. 
 
(h)  Authorizes the municipality to operate under the other provisions of
this subchapter only if a majority of the votes cast at the election favor
the proposition. 
 
SECTION 2.  Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2001.