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  H.B. No. 3739
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to the continued employment of municipal employees who
  become candidates for public office.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  This Act shall be known as the Senator Mario
  Gallegos Act.
         SECTION 2.  Chapter 150, Local Government Code, is amended
  by adding Subchapter C to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER C. EMPLOYEES AS CANDIDATES FOR OFFICE
         Sec. 150.041.  PROHIBITED MUNICIPAL ACTIONS. (a) In this
  section, "candidate" has the meaning assigned by Section
  251.001(1), Election Code.
         (b)  A municipality may not prohibit a municipal employee
  from becoming a candidate for public office.
         (c)  A municipality may not take disciplinary action against
  a municipal employee, including terminating the employment of the
  employee, solely because the employee becomes a candidate for
  public office.  However, the employee is still expected to fulfill
  all the
  duties and responsibilities associated with their municipal
  employment.
         SECTION 3.  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.
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 3739 was passed by the House on May 2,
  2013, by the following vote:  Yeas 145, Nays 2, 2 present, not
  voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B.
  No. 3739 on May 23, 2013, by the following vote:  Yeas 135, Nays 5,
  2 present, not voting.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 3739 was passed by the Senate, with
  amendments, on May 20, 2013, by the following vote:  Yeas 28, Nays
  3.
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate   
  APPROVED: __________________
                  Date       
   
           __________________
                Governor