By: Lucio S.B. No. 1961
 
 
 
   
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the relationship between public employers and fire and
  police employees.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 174.002(a), Local Government Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (a)  The policy of this state is that a political subdivision
  shall provide its fire fighters and police officers with
  compensation and other conditions of employment that are
  substantially equal to [the same as] compensation and other
  conditions of employment that prevail [prevailing] in comparable
  fire and police departments [private sector employment].
         SECTION 2.  Section 174.021, Local Government Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 174.021.  COMPENSATION [PREVAILING WAGE] AND WORKING
  CONDITIONS REQUIRED.  A political subdivision that employs fire
  fighters, police officers, or both, shall provide those employees
  with compensation and other conditions of employment that are[:
               [(1)]  substantially equal to compensation and other
  conditions of employment that prevail in comparable fire or police
  departments, as applicable [employment in the private sector; and
               [(2)     based on prevailing private sector compensation
  and conditions of employment in the labor market area in other jobs
  that require the same or similar skills, ability, and training and
  may be performed under the same or similar conditions].
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.