BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center S.B. 1421
By: Gallegos
AUTHOR'S/SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Currently, there is no specific legislation that addresses standards for eligibility for a child of a fallen firefighter in regards to joining a fire department at an entry-level position.
S.B. 1421 establishes a new standard for an applicant applying for beginning positions in a fire department. In the event that the applicant is a natural-born or adopted child of a firefighter who died in the line of duty, that applicant shall be ranked at the top of any eligibility list in which the applicant received a minimum passing grade on the eligibility examination. The child of a deceased fire fighter is still required to meet all the other standards specified in the Local Government Code.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 143.023(c), Local Government Code, to delete existing text prohibiting a person who is 36 years of age or older and under 45 from being certified as eligible for a beginning position in a police department unless the person has at least five years' experience as a peace officer or at least five years of military experience.
SECTION 2. Amends Section 143.025, Local Government Code, by adding Subsection (j), as follows:
(j) Requires each applicant who is either a natural-born or adopted child of a fire fighter who previously suffered a line-of-duty death while covered by this chapter, notwithstanding Subsection (i), to be ranked at the top of any eligibility list in which said applicant receives a minimum passing grade on that respective eligibility exam. Requires the deceased firefighter's applicant child to otherwise satisfy all of the requirements for eligibility for a beginning position in a fire department contained in this chapter. Requires the Firefighters' and Police Officers' Civil Service Commission to promulgate rules to identify and verify each applicant's eligibility for applicability of this subsection.
SECTION 3. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2005.