AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
The law is currently silent regarding volunteerism within a police department or fire department when an employee is absent as a result of an injury. As proposed, S.B. 1498 provides for fire fighters and police officers to voluntarily perform the duties of an injured colleague for the purpose of ensuring the department can remain fully staffed without incurring overtime pay.
As proposed, S.B. 1498 amends current law relating to job performance on behalf of a fire fighter or police officer during illness or injury.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 143.073, Local Government Code, as follows:
(e) Requires a fire fighter or police officer, after recovery from a temporary disability, to be reinstated at the same rank and with the same seniority the person had before going on temporary leave.
(f) Creates this subdivision from existing text. Authorizes another fire fighter or police officer to voluntarily do the work of a fire fighter or police officer who is on leave under this section, rather than of an injured fire fighter or police officer, until the person returns to duty.
SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2015.