By Bailey                                             H.B. No. 2622
         77R8150 DWS-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to arbitration of disputes between a metropolitan rapid
 1-3     transit authority and its employees.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 451, Transportation Code, is
 1-6     amended by adding Section 451.113 to read as follows:
 1-7           Sec. 451.113.  ARBITRATION OF CERTAIN DISPUTES. (a)  This
 1-8     section applies only to an authority:
 1-9                 (1)  in which the principal city has a population of
1-10     more than 1.5 million; and
1-11                 (2)  that has, with an association that represents
1-12     employees of the authority, entered into an agreement that in whole
1-13     or part relates to grievances, labor disputes, wages, rates of pay,
1-14     hours of work, or conditions of work.
1-15           (b)  Either party to the agreement described by Subsection
1-16     (a)(2) may apply to submit a dispute arising under the agreement to
1-17     binding arbitration under Chapter 171, Civil Practice and Remedies
1-18     Code, as if the agreement contained a provision requiring that
1-19     arbitration and notwithstanding Section 171.002(a)(1).
1-20           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
1-21     a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
1-22     provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
1-23     Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
1-24     Act takes effect September 1, 2001.