H.B. No. 2073

AN ACT

relating to quarantine leave for fire fighters, peace officers, detention officers, and emergency medical technicians employed by, appointed by, or elected for a political subdivision.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. The heading to Chapter 180, Local Government Code, is amended to read as follows:

CHAPTER 180. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS AFFECTING OFFICERS AND

EMPLOYEES OF MORE THAN ONE TYPE OF [MUNICIPALITIES, COUNTIES, AND

CERTAIN OTHER] LOCAL GOVERNMENT [GOVERNMENTS]

SECTION 2. Chapter 180, Local Government Code, is amended by adding Section 180.008 to read as follows:

Sec. 180.008. PAID QUARANTINE LEAVE FOR FIRE FIGHTERS, PEACE OFFICERS, DETENTION OFFICERS, AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIANS. (a) In this section:

(1) "Detention officer" means an individual appointed or employed by a political subdivision as a county jailer or other individual responsible for the care and custody of individuals incarcerated in a county or municipal jail.

(2) "Emergency medical technician" means an individual who is:

(A) certified as an emergency medical technician under Chapter 773, Health and Safety Code; and

(B) employed by a political subdivision.

(3) "Fire fighter" means a paid employee of a municipal fire department or emergency services district who:

(A) holds a position that requires substantial knowledge of fire fighting;

(B) has met the requirements for certification by the Texas Commission on Fire Protection under Chapter 419, Government Code; and

(C) performs a function listed in Section 143.003(4)(A).

(4) "Health authority" has the meaning assigned by Section 121.021, Health and Safety Code.

(5) "Peace officer" means an individual described by Article 2.12, Code of Criminal Procedure, who is elected for, employed by, or appointed by a political subdivision.

(b) The governing body of a political subdivision shall develop and implement a paid quarantine leave policy for fire fighters, peace officers, detention officers, and emergency medical technicians who are employed by, appointed by, or elected for the political subdivision and ordered to quarantine or isolate due to a possible or known exposure to a communicable disease while on duty.

(c) A paid quarantine leave policy must:

(1) provide that a fire fighter, peace officer, detention officer, or emergency medical technician on paid quarantine leave receive:

(A) all employment benefits and compensation, including leave accrual, pension benefits, and health benefit plan benefits for the duration of the leave; and

(B) reimbursement for reasonable costs related to the quarantine, including lodging, medical, and transportation; and

(2) require that the leave be ordered by the person's supervisor or the political subdivision's health authority.

(d) A political subdivision may not reduce a fire fighter's, peace officer's, detention officer's, or emergency medical technician's sick leave balance, vacation leave balance, holiday leave balance, or other paid leave balance in connection with paid quarantine leave taken in accordance with a policy adopted under this section.

SECTION 3. 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, 2021.

______________________________ ______________________________

President of the Senate Speaker of the House

I certify that H.B. No. 2073 was passed by the House on April 7, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 146, Nays 0, 1 present, not voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B. No. 2073 on May 28, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 146, Nays 0, 1 present, not voting.

______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House

I certify that H.B. No. 2073 was passed by the Senate, with amendments, on May 26, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.

______________________________ Secretary of the Senate APPROVED: __________________

Date

__________________

Governor