83R20175 PAM-F
By: Walle H.B. No. 2175
Substitute the following for H.B. No. 2175:
By: Dutton C.S.H.B. No. 2175
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to grievance procedures for firefighters in certain
municipalities.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 143.128, Local Government Code, is
amended by adding Subsection (b-1) to read as follows:
(b-1) If the departmental grievance counselor does not
schedule a step I meeting within the period required by Subsection
(b), the fire fighter may continue to pursue the grievance action by
filing a step II grievance form with the department head or
departmental grievance counselor in accordance with Section
143.129.
SECTION 2. Section 143.129, Local Government Code, is
amended by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (b-1) to
read as follows:
(a) To continue the grievance procedure, the fire fighter or
police officer must complete a step II grievance form and file it
with the department head or the departmental grievance counselor
within 15 calendar days after:
(1) the last day for scheduling a step I meeting
expires as provided by Section 143.128(b-1), for a grievance filed
by a fire fighter; or
(2) the date the fire fighter or police officer
receives the supervisor's response under Section 143.128.
(b-1) If the step II meeting is not held within the period
required by Subsection (b), the fire fighter may continue to pursue
the grievance action by:
(1) submitting a written request to the director
stating the fire fighter's decision to appeal to an independent
third party hearing examiner as provided by Section 143.057; or
(2) filing a step III grievance form with the director
in accordance with Section 143.130.
SECTION 3. Section 143.130(a), Local Government Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(a) To continue the grievance procedure, the fire fighter or
police officer must complete a step III grievance form and file it
with the director within 15 calendar days after:
(1) the last day for holding a step II meeting expires
as provided by Section 143.129(b-1), for a grievance filed by a fire
fighter; or
(2) the date the fire fighter or police officer
receives the department head's response under Section 143.129.
SECTION 4. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to
a grievance filed on or after September 1, 2013.
SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.