AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Each year the San Antonio Fire Department offers a test to qualifying applicants for the position of beginning firefighter. Existing law permits the fire department to maintain its eligibility list for a maximum of 12 months. On average, each year's eligibility list consists of approximately 2,000 persons. The department is routinely unable to process applicants who receive a grade in the low to mid-nineties.
S.B. 1355 seeks to increase the maximum length of time the San Antonio Fire Department may maintain its eligibility list from 12 to 24 months. The city will save approximately $114,000 associated with test administration and processing.
As proposed, S.B. 1355 amends current law relating to the period for which eligibility lists for beginning positions in certain municipal fire or police departments are effective.
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 143.025(l), Local Government Code, as follows:
(l) Provides that this subsection applies only to a municipality with a population of more than 1.3 million and less than 2 million. Requires the Fire Fighters' and Police Officers' Civil Service Commission (commission), notwithstanding Subsection (h) (relating to the commission being required to keep each eligibility list for a beginning position in effect for a certain period and give new examinations at times the commission considers necessary to provide required staffing for scheduled fire or police training academies), to keep each eligibility list for a beginning position in the fire and police departments in effect for a period of not less than six months or more than 24 months, unless the names of all applicants on the list have been referred to the appropriate department. Requires the commission to determine the length of the period for which the eligibility list will remain in effect within the requirements of this subsection. Requires the commission to give new examinations at times the commission considers necessary to provide required staffing for scheduled fire or police training academies.
SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2013.