83R21409 SCL-F
 
  By: Marquez H.B. No. 1329
 
  Substitute the following for H.B. No. 1329:
 
  By:  Dutton C.S.H.B. No. 1329
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the administration of oaths and issuance of subpoenas
  in an arbitration proceeding involving firefighters or police
  officers in certain political subdivisions; creating an offense.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter E, Chapter 174, Local Government
  Code, is amended by adding Section 174.1575 to read as follows:
         Sec. 174.1575.  OATHS AND SUBPOENAS IN ARBITRATION FOR
  CERTAIN POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS. (a)  This section applies only to a
  political subdivision that has adopted this chapter under Section
  174.051 and that:
               (1)  borders the United Mexican States and has a
  population of more than 800,000; or
               (2)  is located within a political subdivision
  described by Subdivision (1).
         (b)  An arbitration board in a proceeding involving a public
  employer, on request by a party to the arbitration or a designee of
  a party, shall:
               (1)  administer oaths; and
               (2)  issue subpoenas and subpoenas duces tecum for the
  attendance of witnesses and the production of books, records,
  documents, papers, accounts, and other evidence relevant and
  material to an issue presented to the board for determination.
         (c)  Except for good cause shown, a request under Subsection
  (b) must be made not later than the 15th day before the date the
  arbitration hearing is scheduled to commence.
         (d)  The following are not subject to a subpoena under this
  section:
               (1)  a person who is actively engaged in providing
  representation to a party to the arbitration; and
               (2)  notes and other documents prepared by a person
  described by Subdivision (1) in the scope of the person's
  representation.
         (e)  An oath administered under this section has the same
  force and effect as an oath administered by a magistrate in the
  magistrate's judicial capacity.
 
         (f)  A response to a subpoena duces tecum under this section
  is considered to have been made under oath.
         (g)  A person who is subpoenaed under this section commits an
  offense if the person fails to appear as required by the subpoena.
  An offense under this section is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine
  up to $1,000, confinement in the county jail for not more than 30
  days, or both the fine and confinement.
         (h)  This section supersedes any conflicting provision in a
  collective bargaining agreement negotiated under this chapter only
  to the extent that the agreement is inconsistent with this section.
  Negotiated provisions of a collective bargaining agreement that are
  not inconsistent with this section remain in full force and effect.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2013.