81R7237 JSC-F
By: Gallegos S.B. No. 1555
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the conditions of employment for firefighters employed
by certain airport districts; providing penalties.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subtitle C, Title 5, Local Government Code, is
amended by adding Chapter 179 to read as follows:
CHAPTER 179. CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT FOR FIREFIGHTERS OF
CERTAIN AIRPORT DISTRICTS
Sec. 179.001. APPLICABILITY. (a) This chapter applies to a
fire department of and firefighters employed by an airport district
created by an interlocal agreement between two or more political
subdivisions of this state.
(b) For purposes of this section, a reference to a
municipality or a municipal official in a provision of law made
applicable by this chapter to a district described by Subsection
(a) is considered to be a reference to the district or the official
of the district responsible for the performance of the duty to which
the provision applies.
Sec. 179.002. DEFINITION. In this chapter, "firefighter"
means a person defined as fire protection personnel under Section
419.021, Government Code.
Sec. 179.003. PAYROLL DEDUCTIONS; LONGEVITY PAY;
CLASSIFICATION PAY; PENALTY. (a) Sections 141.008, 141.032, and
141.033 apply to a firefighter employed by an employer covered by
this chapter.
(b) The penalty under Section 141.035 applies to a person
who is in charge of the fire department under this section or who is
responsible for setting the compensation for firefighters employed
by an employer covered by this chapter.
Sec. 179.004. ASSISTANCE; BENEFITS; WORKING CONDITIONS;
PENALTY. Sections 142.001, 142.0013, 142.0015, 142.0016, 142.004,
142.009, and 142.010 apply to a firefighter employed by an employer
covered by this chapter.
Sec. 179.005. CIVIL SERVICE. (a) An airport district to
which this chapter applies is considered to have adopted Chapter
143 as it applies to the airport district's fire department in the
same manner as a municipality with a population of less than 1.5
million to which that chapter applies, and Subchapters A-F, Chapter
143, apply to the district's fire department.
(b) Each firefighter who has been in the service of the
airport district for more than six months at the time this chapter
first becomes applicable to the airport district 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 airport district.
(c) The Fire Fighters' Civil Service Commission is
established in each airport district subject to this chapter. The
chief operative officer of the airport district shall appoint the
members of the commission within 60 days after the date this chapter
first becomes applicable to the airport district. Within 30 days
after the date the airport district's first full fiscal year begins
after the date this chapter first becomes applicable to the airport
district, the governing body of the airport district shall
implement this chapter.
(d) The office of Director of Fire Fighters' Civil Service
is established in each airport district 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 2. (a) On the effective date of this Act, Chapter
179, Local Government Code, as added by this Act, first becomes
applicable to an existing airport district.
(b) An airport district to which Chapter 143, Local
Government Code, is, without regard to the holding of an election,
applicable because of the change in law made by this Act shall
implement a civil service system in the municipality in accordance
with the terms of Subchapters A-F, Chapter 143, Local Government
Code, and in accordance with Chapter 179, Local Government Code, as
added by this Act.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.