H.B. No. 2307 AN ACT relating to coverage under a meet and confer agreement for certain municipal firefighters and police officers. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 147.002, Local Government Code, is amended to read as follows: Sec. 147.002. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: (1) "Firefighter" means a firefighter employed by the municipality who is covered by the municipality's fire pension plan and is classified by the municipality as nonexempt [exempt]. The term does not include a firefighter with a rank that is above that of battalion chief or section chief. (2) "Firefighter employee group" means an organization: (A) in which, on or before September 1, 2007, firefighters of the municipality have participated and paid dues via automatic payroll deduction [for at least one year]; and (B) that exists for the purpose, in whole or in part, of dealing with the municipality concerning grievances, labor disputes, wages, rates of pay, hours of employment, or conditions of employment affecting firefighters. (3) "Police officer" means a sworn police officer employed by the municipality who is covered by the municipality's police pension plan and is classified by the municipality as nonexempt [exempt]. The term does not include a police officer with a rank above that of captain, a civilian, or a municipal marshal. (4) "Police officer employee group" means an organization: (A) in which, on or before September 1, 2007, at least three percent of the police officers of the municipality have participated and paid dues via automatic payroll deduction [for at least one year]; and (B) that exists for the purpose, in whole or in part, of dealing with the municipality concerning grievances, labor disputes, wages, rates of pay, hours of employment, or conditions of employment affecting police officers. SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009. ______________________________ ______________________________ President of the Senate Speaker of the House I certify that H.B. No. 2307 was passed by the House on April 28, 2009, by the following vote: Yeas 149, Nays 0, 1 present, not voting. ______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House I certify that H.B. No. 2307 was passed by the Senate on May 27, 2009, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. ______________________________ Secretary of the Senate APPROVED: _____________________ Date _____________________ Governor