84R7372 JTS-F
 
  By: Elkins H.B. No. 1749
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the organization of public employees.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  The heading to Chapter 617, Government Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
  CHAPTER 617.  COLLECTIVE BARGAINING, [AND] STRIKES, AND PAYROLL
  DEDUCTIONS
         SECTION 2.  Chapter 617, Government Code, is amended by
  adding Section 617.006 to read as follows:
         Sec. 617.006.  PROHIBITION ON COLLECTION OF LABOR
  ORGANIZATION DUES. Except as provided by Section 141.008, Local
  Government Code, the state or a political subdivision of the state
  may not deduct or withhold, or contract to deduct or withhold, from
  an employee's salary or wages payment of dues or membership fees to
  a labor organization or other similar entity, including a trade
  union, labor union, employees' association, or professional
  organization.
         SECTION 3.  Section 101.002(b), Labor Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (b)  A member of a trade union or other organization acting
  in any capacity, including as otherwise authorized under other law
  to perform an inspection of the premises, may not enter the premises
  of another without the consent of the owner of the premises.
         SECTION 4.  Section 141.008, Local Government Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 141.008.  PAYROLL DEDUCTIONS FOR CERTAIN MUNICIPAL FIRE
  AND POLICE DEPARTMENT MEMBERS [IN CERTAIN MUNICIPALITIES].  (a)  
  The governing body of a municipality with a population of more than
  10,000 may deduct from the [a municipal employee's] monthly salary
  or wages of a member of the municipality's fire or police department
  an amount requested in writing by the member [employee] in payment
  of the member's [membership] dues to a bona fide employees'
  association named by the member [employee].
         (b) [(a-1)]  The governing body shall make the payroll
  deduction described by Subsection (a) if requested in writing by
  members of the municipality's fire department [employees who are
  fire protection personnel as defined by Section 419.021, Government
  Code], if the municipality receives revenue from the state, and if
  the municipality permits deductions for purposes other than
  charity, health insurance, taxes, or other purposes for which the
  municipality is required by law to permit a deduction.
         (c) [(a-2)]  The governing body shall make the payroll
  deduction described by Subsection (a) if:
               (1)  requested in writing by members of the
  municipality's police department [employees] who[:
                     [(A)     are peace officers as defined by Article
  2.12, Code of Criminal Procedure; and
                     [(B)]  are not members of a police department
  covered by a collective bargaining agreement or meet-and-confer
  agreement entered into under this code; and
               (2)  the municipality permits deductions for purposes
  other than charity, health insurance, taxes, or other purposes for
  which the municipality is required by law to permit a deduction.
         (d) [(b)]  Participation in the payroll deduction program by
  a municipal fire or police department member [municipal employee]
  who is on active full-time duty is voluntary.
         (e)  A [(c)  An employee's] written request under Subsection
  (b) or (c) must:
               (1)  be set out in a form prescribed and provided by the
  municipal treasurer or comptroller;
               (2)  state the amount to be deducted each month; and
               (3)  direct the municipal treasurer or comptroller to
  transfer the deducted funds to the designated employees'
  association.
         (f) [(d)]  The amount deducted each month may not exceed the
  amount stated in the written request.  However, the governing body
  of a municipality having a program under this section may impose and
  collect an administrative fee from each participating fire or
  police department member [employee] in addition to the membership
  dues that are withheld. The fee must be a reasonable amount to
  reimburse the municipality for the administrative costs of
  collecting, accounting for, and disbursing the membership dues.
         (g) [(e)]  A request under this section remains in effect
  until the municipal treasurer or comptroller receives a written
  notice of revocation in a form prescribed and provided by the
  treasurer or comptroller and filed by the fire or police department
  member [employee].
         SECTION 5.  Section 146.002(2), Local Government Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
               (2)  "Employee association" means an organization in
  which municipal employees participate and that exists for the
  purpose, wholly or partly, of dealing with one or more employers,
  whether public or private, concerning grievances, labor disputes,
  wages, rates of pay, hours of employment, or conditions of work
  affecting public employees [and whose members pay dues by means of
  an automatic payroll deduction].
         SECTION 6.  Section 146.003, Local Government Code, is
  amended by adding Subsection (e) to read as follows:
         (e)  This chapter does not authorize an agreement for
  deducting or withholding payment of dues, fees, or contributions to
  a labor organization or other similar entity, including a trade
  union, labor union, employees' association, or professional
  organization in violation of Section 617.006, Government Code.
         SECTION 7.  Section 146.005(a), Local Government Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (a)  A [Except as provided by Subsection (b), a]
  certification election ordered under Section 146.004(a)(3) to
  determine whether an employee association represents a majority of
  the covered employees shall be conducted according to procedures
  specified by rules adopted by the Texas Workforce Commission, which
  must include a requirement that the election be conducted by secret
  ballot [agreeable to the parties].
         SECTION 8.  Section 146.006(c), Local Government Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (c)  The ballot for an election ordered under this section
  shall be printed to permit voting "yes" or "no" to the question [for
  or against the proposition]: "Should [Authorizing] __________
  (name of the municipality) be required to [operate under the state
  law allowing a municipality to] meet and confer and make agreements
  with the trade union [association] representing the __________
  (name of division of municipal employees)? [as provided by state
  law, preserving the prohibition against strikes and organized work
  stoppages, and providing penalties for strikes and organized work
  stoppages.]"
         SECTION 9.  Section 146.015(d), Local Government Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (d)  The ballot for an election ordered under Subsection (b)
  shall be printed to allow voting "yes" or "no" to the question [for
  or against the proposition]: "Should [Authorizing] __________
  (name of the municipality) be required [to continue to operate
  under the state law allowing a municipality] to meet and confer and
  make agreements with the trade union [association] representing the
  __________ (name of division of municipal employees)? [as provided
  by state law, preserving the prohibition against strikes and
  organized work stoppages, and providing penalties for strikes and
  organized work stoppages.]"
         SECTION 10.  Section 146.016(c), Local Government Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (c)  An election called under Subsection (b)(2) may be held
  as part of the next regularly scheduled general election for the
  municipality or a special election called by the governing body for
  that purpose. The ballot shall be printed to provide for voting
  "yes" or "no" to the question [for or against the proposition]:
  "Should [Repeal] the meet and confer agreement ratified on _____
  (date agreement was ratified) by the __________ (name of the
  governing body of the municipality) and the _____ (recognized
  municipal trade union [employee association]) be repealed?
  [concerning wages, salaries, rates of pay, hours of work, and other
  terms of employment.]"
         SECTION 11.  Section 146.017, Local Government Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 146.017.  AGREEMENT SUPERSEDES CONFLICTING PROVISIONS.  
  (a)  Except as provided by Subsection (b), a [A] written meet and
  confer agreement ratified under this chapter preempts, during the
  term of the agreement and to the extent of any conflict, all
  contrary state statutes, local ordinances, executive orders, civil
  service provisions, or rules adopted by this state or a political
  subdivision or agent of this state, including a personnel board,
  civil service commission, or home-rule municipality, other than a
  statute, ordinance, executive order, civil service provision, or
  rule regarding pensions or pension-related matters.
         (b)  A written meet and confer agreement ratified under this
  chapter may not conflict with or preempt:
               (1)  Chapter 88 (H.B. 1573), Acts of the 77th
  Legislature, Regular Session, 2001 (Article 6243h, Vernon's Texas
  Civil Statutes); or
               (2)  Section 617.006, Government Code.
         SECTION 12.  Section 155.001(a), Local Government Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (a)  The commissioners court, on the request of a county
  employee, may authorize a payroll deduction to be made from the
  employee's wages or salary for:
               (1)  payment to a credit union;
               (2)  [payment of membership dues in a labor union or a
  bona fide employees association;
               [(3)]  payment of fees for parking in a county-owned
  facility;
               (3) [(4)]  payment to a charitable organization; or
               (4) [(5)]  payment relating to an item not listed in
  this subsection if the commissioners court determines that the
  payment serves a public purpose, unless the deduction would violate
  another law, including Section 617.006, Government Code,
  prohibiting the deduction of labor organization dues.
         SECTION 13.  The following provisions are repealed:
               (1)  Section 22.001, Education Code; and
               (2)  Section 146.005(b), Local Government Code.
         SECTION 14.  The changes in law made by this Act to Chapter
  146, Local Government Code:
               (1)  do not affect the validity of a meet and confer
  agreement entered into under that chapter before the effective date
  of this Act; and
               (2)  apply to a meet and confer agreement entered into,
  proposed to be entered into, proposed to be renewed, or renewed on
  or after the effective date of this Act.
         SECTION 15.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.