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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to paid leave for a state employee who is a search and |
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rescue volunteer. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 661.905, Government Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 661.905. VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS, [AND] EMERGENCY |
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MEDICAL SERVICES VOLUNTEERS, AND SEARCH AND RESCUE VOLUNTEERS. (a) |
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In this section: |
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(1) "Emergency[, "emergency] medical services |
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volunteer" has the meaning assigned by Section 773.003, Health and |
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Safety Code. |
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(2) "Search and rescue volunteer" means an individual |
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who without remuneration, except reimbursement for expenses, |
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provides services for or on behalf of an organization that conducts |
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search and rescue activities. |
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(b) A state employee who is a volunteer firefighter, [or] an |
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emergency medical services volunteer, or a search and rescue |
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volunteer is entitled to a leave of absence without a deduction in |
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salary to attend fire service, [or] emergency medical services, or |
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search and rescue training conducted by a state agency or |
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institution of higher education. Leave without a deduction in |
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salary under this subsection may not exceed five working days in a |
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fiscal year. |
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(c) A state agency or institution of higher education may |
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grant leave without a deduction in salary to a volunteer |
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firefighter, [or] an emergency medical services volunteer, or a |
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search and rescue volunteer for the purpose of allowing the |
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firefighter, [or] emergency medical services volunteer, or search |
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and rescue volunteer to respond to emergency fire, [or] medical, or |
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search and rescue situations if the agency or institution has an |
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established policy for granting that leave. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |