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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the establishment of a statewide meet and confer |
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provision pertaining to employment matters for certain state and |
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local public safety personnel. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 617.002, Government Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (d) to read as |
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follows: |
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(a) Except as provided by Subsection (d) and other law, an |
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[An] official of the state or of a political subdivision of the |
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state may not enter into a collective bargaining contract with a |
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labor organization regarding wages, hours, or conditions of |
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employment of public employees. |
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(d) This section does not apply to a labor organization |
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representing the law enforcement officers, firefighters, or |
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emergency medical services personnel in a municipality with a |
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population of more than 5,000, or to a labor organization |
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representing law enforcement officers employed by a state agency. |
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SECTION 2. Chapter 617, Government Code, is amended by |
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adding Section 617.006 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 617.006. COLLECTIVE BARGAINING BY STATE AGENCIES AND |
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IN CERTAIN MUNICIPALITIES. (a) A state agency or a municipality |
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with a population of 5,000 or more may establish by rule a fair and |
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efficient collective bargaining system that conforms to the |
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requirements of federal law and negotiate with labor organizations |
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representing law enforcement officers, firefighters, or emergency |
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medical services personnel to enter into a collective bargaining |
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agreement. The state agency or municipality may adopt or use as a |
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guide any civil service law or rule of the United States, this |
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state, or a political subdivision in this state to the extent that |
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the law or rule promotes the purposes of this chapter and is |
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consistent with the needs and circumstances of the state agency or |
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municipality. |
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(b) This section does not apply to any group of law |
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enforcement officers, firefighters, or emergency medical services |
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personnel who are already covered by an existing meet and confer or |
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collective bargaining law that conforms with federal minimum |
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requirements. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |