H.B. No. 41
AN ACT
relating to paid leave for a state employee who is a search and
rescue volunteer.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 661.905, Government Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 661.905. VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS, [AND] EMERGENCY
MEDICAL SERVICES VOLUNTEERS, AND SEARCH AND RESCUE VOLUNTEERS. (a)
In this section:
(1) "Emergency[, "emergency] medical services
volunteer" has the meaning assigned by Section 773.003, Health and
Safety Code.
(2) "Search and rescue volunteer" means an individual
who without remuneration, except reimbursement for expenses,
provides services for or on behalf of an organization that conducts
search and rescue activities.
(b) A state employee who is a volunteer firefighter, [or] an
emergency medical services volunteer, or a search and rescue
volunteer is entitled to a leave of absence without a deduction in
salary to attend fire service, [or] emergency medical services, or
search and rescue training conducted by a state agency or
institution of higher education. Leave without a deduction in
salary under this subsection may not exceed five working days in a
fiscal year.
(c) A state agency or institution of higher education may
grant leave without a deduction in salary to a volunteer
firefighter, [or] an emergency medical services volunteer, or a
search and rescue volunteer for the purpose of allowing the
firefighter, [or] emergency medical services volunteer, or search
and rescue volunteer to respond to emergency fire, [or] medical, or
search and rescue situations if the agency or institution has an
established policy for granting that leave.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 41 was passed by the House on March
20, 2019, by the following vote: Yeas 148, Nays 0, 1 present, not
voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 41 was passed by the Senate on April
29, 2019, by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 1.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: _____________________
Date
_____________________
Governor