82R1474 NAJ-F By: Alonzo H.B. No. 1652 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to collective bargaining by firefighters and police officers. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 142.0015(f), Local Government Code, is amended to read as follows: (f) Except as provided by Subsection (g) or (j), a police officer may not be required to work: (1) more than 40 hours during a calendar week in a municipality that: (A) has a population of more than one million; and (B) is not subject to Section 142.0017; [and [(C) has not adopted Chapter 174;] or (2) in a municipality not described by Subdivision (1), more hours during a calendar week than the number of hours in the normal work week of the majority of the employees of the municipality other than fire fighters and police officers. SECTION 2. Section 142.013(a), Local Government Code, is amended to read as follows: (a) This section applies only to police officers employed by a municipality with a population of one million or more [that has not adopted Chapter 174 and] to which Section 143.1261 does not apply. SECTION 3. Section 143.0051(a), Local Government Code, as added by Chapter 129 (H.B. 263), Acts of the 79th Legislature, Regular Session, 2005, is amended to read as follows: (a) This section applies only to a fire department employee employed by a municipality with a population of 220,000 or more. [This section does not apply to a fire department employee employed by a municipality: [(1) that has adopted Chapter 174; or [(2) to which Subchapter H or I applies.] SECTION 4. Subchapter A, Chapter 174, Local Government Code, is amended by adding Section 174.009 to read as follows: Sec. 174.009. EFFECT OF MEET AND CONFER AGREEMENTS. An agreement reached under Subchapter B or C, Chapter 142, Subchapter H, I, or J, Chapter 143, or Chapter 147 before September 1, 2011, remains in effect until the earlier of: (1) the date the agreement expires according to its terms; or (2) the date an agreement under this chapter is ratified by the parties and becomes effective. SECTION 5. Section 174.023, Local Government Code, is amended to read as follows: Sec. 174.023. RIGHT TO ORGANIZE AND BARGAIN COLLECTIVELY. Fire [On adoption of this chapter or the law codified by this chapter by a political subdivision to which this chapter applies, fire] fighters, police officers, or both are entitled to organize and bargain collectively with their public employer regarding compensation, hours, and other conditions of employment. SECTION 6. The heading to Section 174.153, Local Government Code, is amended to read as follows: Sec. 174.153. REQUEST FOR ARBITRATION[; AGREEMENT TO ARBITRATE]. SECTION 7. Sections 174.154(a) and (b), Local Government Code, are amended to read as follows: (a) Not later than the fifth day after the date a request [an agreement] to arbitrate is made [executed], each party shall: (1) select one arbitrator; and (2) immediately notify the other party in writing of the name and address of the arbitrator selected. (b) Not later than the 10th day after the date a request [an agreement] to arbitrate is made [executed], the arbitrators named under Subsection (a) shall attempt to select a third (neutral) arbitrator. If the arbitrators are unable to agree on a third arbitrator, either party may request the American Arbitration Association to select the third arbitrator, and the American Arbitration Association may appoint the third arbitrator according to its fair and regular procedures. Unless both parties consent, the third arbitrator may not be the same individual who served as a mediator under Section 174.151. SECTION 8. The following provisions are repealed: (1) Subchapters B and C, Chapter 142, Local Government Code; (2) Subchapters H, I, and J, Chapter 143, Local Government Code; (3) Chapter 147, Local Government Code; (4) Subchapter C, Chapter 174, Local Government Code; (5) Section 174.153(c), Local Government Code; (6) Section 174.163, Local Government Code; (7) Section 174.252, Local Government Code; and (8) Section 1.05, Chapter 183 (S.B. 598), Acts of the 64th Legislature, Regular Session, 1975 (Article 6243e.1, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes). SECTION 9. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011.