88R2010 JTZ-D
 
  By: Burns H.B. No. 1661
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the age limit for a beginning position in a police
  department under municipal civil service.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 143.023(c), Local Government Code, is
  repealed.
         SECTION 2.  The heading to Section 143.083, Local Government
  Code, is amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 143.083.  EMERGENCY APPOINTMENT OF TEMPORARY FIRE
  FIGHTERS [AND POLICE OFFICERS].
         SECTION 3.  Section 143.083(a), Local Government Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (a)  If a municipality is unable to recruit qualified fire
  fighters [or police officers] because of the maximum age limit
  prescribed by Section 143.023 and the municipality's governing body
  finds that this inability creates an emergency, the commission
  shall recommend to the governing body additional rules governing
  the temporary employment of persons who are 36 years of age or
  older.
         SECTION 4.  Section 143.084, Local Government Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 143.084.  CIVIL SERVICE STATUS AND PENSION BENEFITS FOR
  CERTAIN FIRE FIGHTERS [AND POLICE OFFICERS]. (a) Each fire fighter
  [or police officer] who, since December 31, 1969, has been
  continuously employed as a temporary employee under the provision
  codified as Section 143.083 has the full status of a civil service
  employee with all the rights and privileges granted by Section
  143.005.
         (b)  A fire fighter [or police officer] covered by Subsection
  (a) is eligible to participate in earned pension benefits. The
  person may buy back service credits in the pension fund in which the
  permanent fire fighters [or police officers] in the department have
  participated since that person's employment. The credits may be
  bought at a rate determined by the actuary of the affected pension
  fund.
         SECTION 5.  Section 143.084, Local Government Code, as
  amended by this Act, does not affect the civil service status or
  eligibility for pension benefits of a police officer to whom that
  section applied immediately before the effective date of this Act.
  The civil service status and eligibility for pension benefits of a
  police officer to whom that section applied is governed by the law
  in effect immediately before the effective date of this Act, and the
  former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
         SECTION 6.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.