By: Collier H.B. No. 2672
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the relationship between public employers and fire and
  police employees.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Sections 174.002(a) and (d), Local Government
  Code, are amended to read as follows:
         (a)  The policy of this state is that a political subdivision
  shall provide its fire fighters and police officers with
  compensation and other conditions of employment that are
  substantially equal to [the same as] compensation and
  other
  conditions of employment that prevail [prevailing] in comparable
  fire and police departments [private sector employment].
         (d)  Because of the essential and emergency nature of the
  public service performed by fire fighters and police officers, a
  reasonable alternative to strikes is a system of arbitration
  conducted under adequate legislative standards. [Another
  reasonable alternative, if the parties fail to agree to arbitrate,
  is judicial enforcement of the requirements of this chapter
  regarding compensation and conditions of employment applicable to
  fire fighters and police officers.]
         SECTION 2.  Section 174.021, Local Government Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 174.021.  COMPENSATION [PREVAILING WAGE] AND WORKING
  CONDITIONS REQUIRED. A political subdivision that employs fire
  fighters, police officers, or both, shall provide those employees
  with compensation and other conditions of employment that are[:
               [(1)] substantially equal to compensation and other
  conditions of employment that prevail in comparable fire or police
  departments, as applicable [employment in the private sector; and
               [(2) based on prevailing private sector compensation
  and conditions of employment in the labor market area in other jobs
  that require the same or similar skills, ability, and training and
  may be performed under the same or similar conditions].
         SECTION 3.  The heading to Section 174.153, Local Government
  Code, is amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 174.153.  BINDING INTEREST [REQUEST FOR] ARBITRATION
  REQUIRED [; AGREEMENT TO ARBITRATE].
         SECTION 4.  Section 174.153, Local Government Code, is
  amended by amending Subsections (a) and (b), by adding Subsection
  (b-1), and renumbering Subsection (d) to read as follows:
         (a)  A public employer and [or] an association that is a
  bargaining agent shall submit to binding interest [may request the
  appointment of an] arbitration [board] if[:
               [(1)] the parties:
               (1) [(A)]  reach an impasse in collective bargaining;
  or
               (2) [(B)]  are unable to settle after the 61st day
  after the date the appropriate lawmaking body fails to approve a
  contract reached through collective bargaining[;
               [(2)     the parties made every reasonable effort,
  including mediation, to settle the dispute through good-faith
  collective bargaining; and
               [(3)     the public employer or association gives written
  notice to the other party, specifying the issue in dispute].
         (b)  Each party shall send to the other party a written
  notice specifying each issue in dispute for purposes of binding [A
  request for] arbitration [must be made] not later than the fifth day
  after:
               (1)  the date an impasse was reached under Section
  174.152; [or]
               (2)  the expiration of an extension period under
  Section 174.152; or
               (3)  the expiration of the period described by
  Subsection (a)(2).
         (b-1)  A notice under Subsection (b) is considered sent on
  the date the notice is placed in the mail or personally delivered to
  the person authorized to accept service on behalf of the respective
  party.
         (c)[(d)]  A party may not request arbitration more than once
  in a fiscal year.
         SECTION 5.  Sections 174.154(a) and (b), Local Government
  Code, are amended to read as follows:
         (a)  Not later than the fifth day after the date a party sends
  the notice required under Section 174.153, the public employer
  shall immediately request a list of seven qualified neutral
  arbitrators from the American Arbitration Association or the
  Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, or their successors in
  function. The bargaining agent and the municipality, or their
  designees, may agree on one of the seven neutral arbitrators on the
  list. If they do not agree within five working days after the date
  they received the list, each party or the party's designee shall
  alternate striking a name from the list and the name remaining is
  the arbitrator. [an agreement to arbitrate is executed, each party
  shall:
               (1)  select one arbitrator; and
               (2)     immediately notify the other party in writing of
  the name and address of the arbitrator selected.
         (b)     Not later than the 10th day after the date an agreement
  to arbitrate is executed, the arbitrators named under Subsection
  (a) shall attempt to select a third (neutral) arbitrator. If the
  arbitrators are unable to agree on a third arbitrator, either party
  may request the American Arbitration Association to select the
  third arbitrator, and the American Arbitration Association may
  appoint the third arbitrator according to its fair and regular
  procedures. Unless both parties consent, the third arbitrator may
  not be the same individual who served as a mediator under Section
  174.151.]
         SECTION 6.  Sections 174.153(c), 174.163, and 174.252, Local
  Government Code, are repealed.
         SECTION 7.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.