88R15348 DRS-F
 
  By: Muñoz, Jr., Frazier H.B. No. 994
 
  Substitute the following for H.B. No. 994:
 
  By:  Rosenthal C.S.H.B. No. 994
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to sheriff's department civil service systems in certain
  counties.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 158, Local Government
  Code, is amended by adding Sections 158.0352 and 158.0353 to read as
  follows:
         Sec. 158.0352.  DISCIPLINARY SUSPENSION OR TERMINATION. (a)
  The sheriff may suspend or terminate an employee for the violation
  of a civil service rule. A suspension under this section may be for
  a reasonable period not to exceed 15 calendar days.
         (b)  If the sheriff suspends or terminates an employee, the
  sheriff shall, within 120 hours after the hour of suspension or
  termination, file a written statement with the commission giving
  the reasons for the suspension or termination. The sheriff shall
  immediately deliver a copy of the statement in person to the
  suspended or terminated employee.
         (c)  The copy of the written statement must inform the
  suspended or terminated employee that if the employee wants to
  appeal to the commission, the employee must file a written appeal
  with the commission within 10 days after the date the employee
  receives the copy of the statement.
         (d)  The written statement filed by the sheriff with the
  commission must identify each civil service rule alleged to have
  been violated by the suspended or terminated employee and must
  describe the alleged acts of the employee that the sheriff contends
  are in violation of the civil service rules. It is not sufficient
  for the sheriff merely to refer to the provisions of the rules
  alleged to have been violated.
         (e)  If the sheriff does not specifically identify in the
  written statement the act or acts of the suspended or terminated
  employee that allegedly violated the civil service rules, the
  commission shall promptly reinstate the employee.
         (f)  If offered by the sheriff, the suspended or terminated
  employee may agree in writing to voluntarily accept, with no right
  of appeal, a suspension of 16 to 90 calendar days for the violation
  of a civil service rule. The employee must accept the offer within
  five working days after the date the offer is made. If the employee
  refuses the offer and wants to appeal to the commission, the
  employee must file a written appeal with the commission in
  accordance with Section 158.037.
         (g)  In the original written statement and charges and in any
  hearing conducted under this subchapter, the sheriff may not
  complain of an act that occurred earlier than the 180th day
  preceding the date the sheriff suspends or terminates the employee.
  If the act is allegedly related to criminal activity, including the
  violation of a federal, state, or local law for which the employee
  is subject to a criminal penalty:
               (1)  the sheriff may not complain of an act that is
  discovered earlier than the 180th day preceding the date the
  sheriff suspends or terminates the employee; and
               (2)  the sheriff must allege that the act complained of
  is related to criminal activity.
         Sec. 158.0353.  DEMOTIONS.  (a)  The sheriff may recommend to
  the commission in writing that the commission demote a nonexempt
  employee involuntarily.
         (b)  The sheriff must include in the recommendation for
  demotion the reasons for the recommended demotion and a request
  that the commission order the demotion. The sheriff must
  immediately furnish a copy of the recommendation in person to the
  affected employee.
         (c)  The commission may refuse to grant the request for
  demotion. If the commission believes that probable cause exists
  for ordering the demotion, the commission shall give the employee
  written notice to appear before the commission for a public hearing
  at a time and place specified in the notice. The commission shall
  give the notice before the 10th day before the date the hearing will
  be held.
         (d)  The employee is entitled to a full and complete public
  hearing, and the commission may not demote an employee without that
  public hearing.
         (e)  A voluntary demotion in which the employee has accepted
  the terms of the demotion in writing is not subject to this section.
         SECTION 2.  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, 2023.