Martinez Bill Forces Civil Service On Every 25,000-Person City

The text as introduced · 954 words

90R5279 ZAG-D

By: Martinez
H.B. No. 239

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to applicability of the civil service system for municipal

firefighters and police officers and sheriff's departments.

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

SECTION 1. Section 143.002(a), Local Government Code, is

amended to read as follows:

(a) This chapter applies only to a municipality[ :

[ (1) ] that:

(1) [ (A) ] has a population of 25,000 [ 10,000 ] or more;

and

(2) [ (B) ] has a paid fire department or police

department[ ; and

[ (C) has voted to adopt this chapter or the law

codified by this chapter; or

[ (2) whose election to adopt this chapter and whose

acts subsequent to that election were validated by the law enacted

by House Bill 822, Acts of the 73rd Legislature, Regular Session,

1993 ].

SECTION 2. Section 143.005, Local Government Code, is

amended to read as follows:

Sec. 143.005. STATUS OF EMPLOYEES WHEN [ IF ] CHAPTER BECOMES

APPLICABLE [ ADOPTED ]. (a) Each fire fighter or police officer

[ serving in a municipality that adopts this chapter and ] who has

been in the service of a [ the ] municipality for more than six months

at the time this chapter first becomes applicable to the

municipality [ is adopted ] and who is entitled to civil service

classification has the status of a civil service employee and is not

required to take a competitive examination to remain in the

position the person occupies at the time this chapter first becomes

applicable to the municipality [ of the adoption ].

(b) An [ In a municipality that adopts this chapter, an ]

employee of the fire department whose primary duties are to provide

emergency medical services for the municipality is considered to be

a fire fighter who is a member of the fire department performing

fire medical emergency technology, entitled to civil service

protection, and covered by this chapter.

SECTION 3. Section 143.006(a), Local Government Code, is

amended to read as follows:

(a) The [ On adoption of this chapter, the ] Fire Fighters'

and Police Officers' Civil Service Commission is established in

each [ the ] municipality subject to this chapter . The chief

executive of the municipality shall appoint the members of the

commission within 60 days after the date this chapter first becomes

applicable to the municipality [ is adopted ]. Within 30 days after

the date the municipality's first full fiscal year begins after the

date this chapter first becomes applicable to the municipality [ of

the adoption election ], the governing body of the municipality

shall implement this chapter.

SECTION 4. Section 143.012(a), Local Government Code, is

amended to read as follows:

(a) The [ On adoption of this chapter, the ] office of

Director of Fire Fighters' and Police Officers' Civil Service is

established in each [ the ] municipality subject to this chapter .

The commission shall appoint the director. The director shall

serve as secretary to the commission and perform work incidental to

the civil service system as required by the commission. The

commission may remove the director at any time.

SECTION 5. Section 158.032, Local Government Code, is

amended to read as follows:

Sec. 158.032. APPLICABILITY OF SUBCHAPTER [ ELIGIBLE

DEPARTMENTS ]. A sheriff's department in a county with a population

of 250,000 or more shall adopt [ than 500,000 may, in accordance with

this subchapter, create ] a civil service system.

SECTION 6. Section 158.034(a), Local Government Code, is

amended to read as follows:

(a) In a county with a population of less than 2.8 million,

on the date this subchapter first becomes applicable to the

department [ if a majority of the employees voting at the election

approve the creation of a sheriff's department civil service

system ], the sheriff, commissioners court, and district attorney

shall each appoint one person to serve as a member of the civil

service commission that administers the system. In a county with a

population of 2.8 million or more, on the date this subchapter first

becomes applicable to the department [ if a majority of the

employees voting at the election approve the creation of a

sheriff's department civil service system ], the sheriff,

commissioners court, and district attorney shall each appoint two

persons to serve as members of the civil service commission that

administers the system, and the three appointing authorities shall

appoint one member by joint action requiring the affirmative vote

of each of the authorities.

SECTION 7. The following provisions of the Local Government

Code are repealed:

(1) Section 143.002(c);

(2) Section 143.004;

(3) Section 158.033; and

(4) Section 158.039.

SECTION 8. (a) On the effective date of this Act, Chapters

143 and 158, Local Government Code, as amended by this Act, first

become applicable for purposes of the changes in law made by this

Act to a municipality that is subject to Chapter 143, Local

Government Code, as amended by this Act, and a county that is

subject to Chapter 158, Local Government Code, as amended by this

Act, but that was not operating under the applicable chapter

immediately before that date.

(b) A municipality to which Chapter 143, Local Government

Code, as amended by this Act, or a county to which Chapter 158,

Local Government Code, as amended by this Act, is applicable,

without regard to the holding of an election, because of the change

in law made by this Act shall implement a civil service system in

the municipality or county in accordance with Chapter 143 or 158,

Local Government Code, as amended by this Act, as applicable.

SECTION 9. This Act takes effect September 1, 2027.