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AN ACT
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relating to the age limit for a beginning position in a police |
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department under municipal civil service. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 143.023(c), Local Government Code, is |
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repealed. |
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SECTION 2. The heading to Section 143.083, Local Government |
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Code, is amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 143.083. EMERGENCY APPOINTMENT OF TEMPORARY FIRE |
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FIGHTERS [AND POLICE OFFICERS]. |
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SECTION 3. Section 143.083(a), Local Government Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a) If a municipality is unable to recruit qualified fire |
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fighters [or police officers] because of the maximum age limit |
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prescribed by Section 143.023 and the municipality's governing body |
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finds that this inability creates an emergency, the commission |
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shall recommend to the governing body additional rules governing |
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the temporary employment of persons who are 36 years of age or |
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older. |
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SECTION 4. Section 143.084, Local Government Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 143.084. CIVIL SERVICE STATUS AND PENSION BENEFITS FOR |
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CERTAIN FIRE FIGHTERS [AND POLICE OFFICERS]. (a) Each fire fighter |
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[or police officer] who, since December 31, 1969, has been |
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continuously employed as a temporary employee under the provision |
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codified as Section 143.083 has the full status of a civil service |
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employee with all the rights and privileges granted by Section |
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143.005. |
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(b) A fire fighter [or police officer] covered by Subsection |
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(a) is eligible to participate in earned pension benefits. The |
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person may buy back service credits in the pension fund in which the |
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permanent fire fighters [or police officers] in the department have |
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participated since that person's employment. The credits may be |
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bought at a rate determined by the actuary of the affected pension |
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fund. |
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SECTION 5. Section 143.084, Local Government Code, as |
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amended by this Act, does not affect the civil service status or |
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eligibility for pension benefits of a police officer to whom that |
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section applied immediately before the effective date of this Act. |
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The civil service status and eligibility for pension benefits of a |
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police officer to whom that section applied is governed by the law |
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in effect immediately before the effective date of this Act, and the |
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former law is continued in effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |
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______________________________ |
______________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.B. No. 1661 was passed by the House on April |
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28, 2023, by the following vote: Yeas 144, Nays 0, 2 present, not |
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voting. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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I certify that H.B. No. 1661 was passed by the Senate on May |
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19, 2023, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. |
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______________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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APPROVED: _____________________ |
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Date |
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_____________________ |
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Governor |