SRC-AMY S.B. 1426 78(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 1426
By: Jackson
Intergovernmental Relations
3/28/2003
As Filed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Currently, the Local Government Code establishes civil service
requirements for fire fighters and police officers in cities with a
population in excess of 10,000, that have adopted the Fire Fighter and
Police Officer Civil Service Act through a local election. As proposed,
S.B. 1426 defines the difference between an engine company and a ladder
company and requires that both be staffed with a minimum of four on-duty
personnel. 

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 143G, Local Government Code, by adding Section
143.055, as follows: 

(a) Requires fire companies whose primary functions are to pump and
deliver water, and perform basic fire fighting at fires, to be known as
engine companies and to be staffed with a minimum of four on-duty
personnel. 

(b) Requires fire companies whose primary functions are to perform the
variety of services associated with truck work, such as forcible entry,
ventilation, search and rescue, and certain other activities, to be known
as ladder companies and to be staffed with a minimum of four on-duty
personnel. 

SECTION 2.  Effective date: September 1, 2003.