83R6047 SCL-F
By: Marquez H.B. No. 1329
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the administration of oaths and issuance of subpoenas
in an arbitration proceeding involving county firefighters or
police officers; creating an offense.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter E, Chapter 174, Local Government
Code, is amended by adding Section 174.1575 to read as follows:
Sec. 174.1575. OATHS AND SUBPOENAS IN COUNTY ARBITRATION.
(a) An arbitration board in a proceeding involving a county public
employer, on request by a party to the arbitration or a designee of
a party, shall:
(1) administer oaths; and
(2) issue subpoenas and subpoenas duces tecum for the
attendance of witnesses and the production of books, records,
documents, papers, accounts, and other evidence relevant and
material to an issue presented to the board for determination.
(b) Except for good cause shown, a request under Subsection
(a) must be made not later than the 15th day before the date the
arbitration hearing is scheduled to commence.
(c) The following are not subject to a subpoena under this
section:
(1) a person who is actively engaged in providing
representation to a party to the arbitration; and
(2) notes and other documents prepared by a person
described by Subdivision (1) in the scope of the person's
representation.
(d) An oath administered under this section has the same
force and effect as an oath administered by a magistrate in the
magistrate's judicial capacity.
(e) A response to a subpoena duces tecum under this section
is considered to have been made under oath.
(f) A person who is subpoenaed under this section commits an
offense if the person fails to appear as required by the subpoena.
An offense under this section is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine
up to $1,000, confinement in the county jail for not more than 30
days, or both the fine and confinement.
(g) This section supersedes any conflicting provision in a
collective bargaining agreement negotiated under this chapter only
to the extent that the agreement is inconsistent with this section.
Negotiated provisions of a collective bargaining agreement that are
not inconsistent with this section remain in full force and effect.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2013.