BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center S.B. 1539
AUTHOR'S/SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Currently, municipalities with a population of 10,000 or more that have both a paid fire department and a paid police department are eligible for civil service. However, there are a number of cities with a population of 10,000 or more which have only a paid police department because the fire department is comprised of volunteers. Therefore, the police officers in cities with volunteer fire departments would only be eligible for civil service if there is a petition by the voters for an election and approval of civil service.
As proposed, S.B. 1539 allows municipalities with a population of 10,000 or more which have a paid police department or a paid fire department to elect to apply the municipal civil service law. It does not change the election requirement stated above.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 143.002, Local Government Code, as follows:
Sec. 143.002. MUNICIPALITIES COVERED BY CHAPTER. Provides that this chapter applies only to a municipality that has a paid fire department or police department.
SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2005.