BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 1177

By: Guillen

Urban Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Subchapter A, Chapter 614, Government Code, allows peace officers and firefighters 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 to take leave to serve in, appear before, or petition a governmental body during a regular or special legislative session. A peace officer or firefighter who takes "legislative leave" is required to reimburse the employer for the costs associated with taking the leave.  An employer can require the employee to post the reimbursement money before granting leave or refuse leave in cases where staffing is inadequate to provide necessary services.

H.B. 1177 lowers the minimum population requirements so that these provisions apply to a municipality with a population of 50,000 or more or a county with a population of 190,000 or more.  

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 1177 amends the Government Code to reduce from 200,000 to 50,000 the population a municipality that hires a peace officer or firefighter must have for that peace officer or firefighter to be eligible for legislative leave and reduces from 500,000 to 190,000 the population a county that hires a peace officer or firefighter must have for that peace officer or firefighter to be eligible for legislative leave. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2009.