By Barrientos                                          S.B. No. 729
         77R4043 JMM-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to collective bargaining by employees of local
 1-3     governments.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Section 617.002, Government Code, is amended to
 1-6     read as follows:
 1-7           Sec. 617.002.  COLLECTIVE BARGAINING BY STATE [PUBLIC]
 1-8     EMPLOYEES PROHIBITED.  (a)  An official of the state [or of a
 1-9     political subdivision of the state] may not enter into a collective
1-10     bargaining contract with a labor organization regarding wages,
1-11     hours, or conditions of employment of public employees.
1-12           (b)  A contract entered into in violation of Subsection (a)
1-13     is void.
1-14           (c)  An official of the state [or of a political subdivision
1-15     of the state] may not recognize a labor organization as the
1-16     bargaining agent for a group of public employees.
1-17           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
1-18     a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
1-19     provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
1-20     Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
1-21     Act takes effect September 1, 2001.