H.B. No. 554
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to the civil service status of emergency medical services
  personnel in certain municipalities.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 143, Local Government Code, is amended
  by adding Subchapter K to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER K. CIVIL SERVICE STATUS OF EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES
  PERSONNEL IN CERTAIN MUNICIPALITIES
         Sec. 143.401.  APPLICABILITY. (a) This subchapter applies
  only to a municipality:
               (1)  with a population of 460,000 or more that operates
  under a city manager form of government; and
               (2)  that employs emergency medical services personnel
  in a municipal department other than the fire department.
         (b)  In this subchapter, "emergency medical services
  personnel" has the meaning assigned by Section 773.003, Health and
  Safety Code. The term applies only to an individual certified under
  Chapter 773, Health and Safety Code.
         Sec. 143.402.  ELECTION TO ADOPT OR REPEAL SUBCHAPTER. (a)
  A municipality may hold an election to adopt or repeal this
  subchapter as provided by this section.
         (b)  If the governing body of the municipality receives a
  petition requesting an election that is signed by a number of
  registered voters who reside in the municipality equal to at least
  10 percent of the number of voters who voted in the most recent
  municipal general election, the governing body shall order an
  election submitting to the voters the question of whether this
  subchapter should be adopted. The election must be held on the first
  authorized uniform election date prescribed by Chapter 41, Election
  Code, that occurs after the petition is filed and that allows
  sufficient time to comply with other requirements of law.
         (c)  The ballot shall be printed to provide for voting for or
  against the proposition: "Adoption of the emergency medical
  services personnel civil service law." If a majority of the votes
  received in the election favor adoption of this subchapter, the
  governing body shall implement this subchapter.
         (d)  A petition for a subsequent election to be held under
  Subsection (b) may not be filed for at least one year after the date
  of a previous election under that subsection.  To be valid, a
  petition for a subsequent election must contain the signatures of a
  number of registered voters who reside in the municipality equal to
  at least 20 percent of the number of voters who voted in the most
  recent municipal general election. Any subsequent election must be
  held at the next municipal general election that occurs after the
  petition is filed.
         (e)  If the governing body of a municipality that has
  operated under this subchapter for at least one year receives a
  petition requesting an election to repeal this subchapter that is
  signed by at least 10 percent of the registered voters who reside in
  the municipality, the governing body shall order an election
  submitting to the voters the question of whether this subchapter
  should be repealed. If a majority of the votes received favor repeal
  of this subchapter, this subchapter is void in that municipality.
         Sec. 143.403.  STATUS OF EMPLOYEES IF SUBCHAPTER ADOPTED.
  (a) Each person who is employed for more than six months as
  emergency medical services personnel serving in a municipality at
  the time this subchapter is adopted in the municipality and who is
  entitled to civil service classification has the status of a civil
  service employee and is not required to take a competitive
  examination to remain in the position the person occupies at the
  time of the adoption.
         (b)  On adoption of this subchapter, the governing body of
  the municipality employing emergency medical services personnel
  shall classify the personnel in accordance with Section 143.021 and
  the duties performed by the personnel.
         (c)  To the extent it can be made applicable, each provision
  of this chapter, including the provisions relating to eligibility
  lists, examinations, promotions, appointments, educational
  incentive pay, longevity or seniority pay, certification pay,
  assignment pay, salary, vacation leave, and disciplinary appeals,
  applies to emergency medical services personnel covered by this
  subchapter.
         SECTION 2.  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, 2011.
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 554 was passed by the House on May 3,
  2011, by the following vote:  Yeas 136, Nays 8, 1 present, not
  voting.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 554 was passed by the Senate on May
  25, 2011, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate    
  APPROVED:  _____________________
                     Date          
   
            _____________________
                   Governor