Texas Senate Bill SB1474

Texas 2009 - 81st Regular

• Out of Senate Committee: 4/8/09
• Voted on by Senate: 4/23/09
• Out of House Committee: 5/15/09
• Voted on by House: 5/26/09
• Governor Action: 6/19/09
• Enrolled: 5/26/09
• Passed: 6/19/09

Caption

Relating to compensation for certain emergency services personnel.

Impact

This piece of legislation is significant for emergency services personnel as it recognizes the unique demands of their roles, particularly during declared disasters. By giving state-employed emergency personnel the option to either take compensatory time or receive overtime pay for hours worked beyond standard schedules, the bill intends to preserve their well-being while ensuring adequate service delivery during critical times. This added flexibility may also help to improve job satisfaction among these crucial workers.

Summary

SB1474 aims to amend the Government Code to provide more flexible compensatory time and overtime payment options for certain emergency services personnel in Texas. The bill specifically targets state employees who are not covered by the federal Fair Labor Standards Act, such as firefighters, police officers, emergency medical technicians, and other similar professionals. The core of the bill seeks to allow these personnel to take compensatory time off within an 18-month period following its accrual, providing them a way to manage their work-life balance in the demanding environment of emergency services.

Contention

While the bill seems to address common concerns about workload and compensation among emergency personnel, potential points of contention could arise regarding its implementation. Organizations representing emergency services may express both support and caution about ensuring that adequate funds are allocated for overtime payments, particularly in times of financial constraints. Moreover, conversations around the administrative processes required to manage compensatory time effectively could influence how well this bill is received in practice.