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