BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center H.B. 1177
81R7286 KSD-F By: Guillen, Flores (Zaffirini)
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Under current law, peace officers and fire fighters employed by the state, a municipality with a population of 200,000 or more, or a county with a population of 500,000 or more are permitted to take leave to serve in, appear, before, or petition a governmental body during a regular or special session of the legislature. Typically, such legislative leave is used to allow leaders of police officer, deputy sheriff, or firefighter associations to adequately represent their membership before governmental bodies, relieving these public safety professionals from having to hire a professional lobbyist and instead allowing them to present their own personal perspectives on issues that affect public safety.
H.B. 1177 expands this ability to peace officers and fire fighters in municipalities with a population of 50,000 or more and counties with a population of 190,000 or more.
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 Section 614.002, Government Code, to provide that this subchapter applies only to a peace officer or fire fighter employed by the state; a municipality with a population of 50,000 or more, rather than 200,000 or more; or a county with a population of 190,000 or more, rather than 500,000 or more.
SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2009.