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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to grievance procedures for firefighters in certain |
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municipalities. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 143.128, Local Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Subsection (b-1) to read as follows: |
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(b-1) If the departmental grievance counselor does not |
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schedule a step I meeting within the period required by Subsection |
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(b), the fire fighter may continue to pursue the grievance action by |
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filing a step II grievance form with the department head or |
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departmental grievance counselor in accordance with Section |
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143.129. |
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SECTION 2. Section 143.129, Local Government Code, is |
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amended by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (b-1) to |
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read as follows: |
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(a) To continue the grievance procedure, the fire fighter or |
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police officer must complete a step II grievance form and file it |
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with the department head or the departmental grievance counselor |
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within 15 calendar days after: |
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(1) the last day for scheduling a step I meeting |
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expires as provided by Section 143.128(b-1), for a grievance filed |
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by a fire fighter; or |
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(2) the date the fire fighter or police officer |
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receives the supervisor's response under Section 143.128. |
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(b-1) If the step II meeting is not held within the period |
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required by Subsection (b), the fire fighter may continue to pursue |
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the grievance action by: |
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(1) submitting a written request to the director |
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stating the fire fighter's decision to appeal to an independent |
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third party hearing examiner as provided by Section 143.057; or |
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(2) filing a step III grievance form with the director |
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in accordance with Section 143.130. |
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SECTION 3. Section 143.130(a), Local Government Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a) To continue the grievance procedure, the fire fighter or |
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police officer must complete a step III grievance form and file it |
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with the director within 15 calendar days after: |
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(1) the last day for holding a step II meeting expires |
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as provided by Section 143.129(b-1), for a grievance filed by a fire |
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fighter; or |
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(2) the date the fire fighter or police officer |
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receives the department head's response under Section 143.129. |
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SECTION 4. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to |
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a grievance filed on or after September 1, 2013. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013. |