Bill Text: TX HB2927 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Engrossed


Bill Title: Relating to quarantine leave for certain public safety employees.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2023-05-16 - Referred to State Affairs [HB2927 Detail]

Download: Texas-2023-HB2927-Engrossed.html
  88R22494 MCK-F
 
  By: Turner H.B. No. 2927
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to quarantine leave for certain public safety employees.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 607, Government Code, is amended by
  adding Subchapter D to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER D. QUARANTINE LEAVE FOR CERTAIN PUBLIC SAFETY EMPLOYEES
         Sec. 607.151.  DEFINITIONS. (a)  In this subchapter:
               (1)  "Detention officer" means an individual employed
  by the state to ensure the safekeeping of prisoners and the security
  of a state penal institution in this state.
               (2)  "Emergency medical technician" means an
  individual who is:
                     (A)  certified as an emergency medical technician
  under Chapter 773, Health and Safety Code; and
                     (B)  employed by the state.
               (3)  "Firefighter" means a paid employee of the state
  who:
                     (A)  holds a position that requires substantial
  knowledge of firefighting;
                     (B)  has met the requirements for certification by
  the Texas Commission on Fire Protection under Chapter 419; and
                     (C)  performs a function listed in Section
  143.003(4)(A), Local Government Code.
               (4)  "Health authority" has the meaning assigned by
  Section 121.021, Health and Safety Code.
               (5)  "Ordered to quarantine or isolate" means any
  circumstance in which a person is not permitted to continue working
  due to:
                     (A)  a written or verbal directive by a health
  authority or the employee's supervisor ordering the person to
  refrain from reporting to duty after displaying symptoms of a
  communicable disease; or
                     (B)  a written or verbal directive by a health
  authority or the employee's supervisor ordering the person to
  refrain from reporting to duty after being exposed to a
  communicable disease that is a presumptive illness under this
  chapter.
               (6)  "Peace officer" means an individual described by
  Article 2.12, Code of Criminal Procedure, who is elected for,
  employed by, or appointed by the state.
         (b)  Notwithstanding Section 607.001, in this subchapter,
  "public safety employee" means a detention officer, emergency
  medical technician, firefighter, or peace officer.
         Sec. 607.152.   PAID QUARANTINE LEAVE FOR CERTAIN PUBLIC
  SAFETY EMPLOYEES. (a)  A state agency that employs public safety
  employees shall develop and implement a paid quarantine leave
  policy for public safety employees who are ordered to quarantine or
  isolate.
         (b)  A paid quarantine leave policy must provide that a
  public safety employee ordered to quarantine or isolate receive:
               (1)  all employment benefits and compensation,
  including leave accrual, pension benefits, and health benefit plan
  benefits for the duration of the leave; and
               (2)  reimbursement for reasonable costs related to the
  quarantine, including lodging, medical, and transportation.
         (c)  The state agency may not reduce a public safety
  employee's sick leave balance, vacation leave balance, or other
  paid leave balance in connection with paid quarantine leave taken
  in accordance with a policy adopted under this section.
         SECTION 2.  Section 180.008(a), Local Government Code, as
  added by Chapter 685 (H.B. 2073), Acts of the 87th Legislature,
  Regular Session, 2021, is amended by adding Subdivision (4-a) to
  read as follows:
               (4-a)  "Ordered to quarantine or isolate" means any
  circumstance in which a person is not permitted to continue working
  due to:
                     (A)  a written or verbal directive by a health
  authority or the employee's supervisor ordering the person to
  refrain from reporting to duty after displaying symptoms of a
  communicable disease; or
                     (B)  a written or verbal directive by a health
  authority or the employee's supervisor ordering the person to
  refrain from reporting to duty after being exposed to a
  communicable disease that is a presumptive illness under this
  chapter.
         SECTION 3.  Section 180.008(b), Local Government Code, as
  added by Chapter 685 (H.B. 2073), Acts of the 87th Legislature,
  Regular Session, 2021, is amended to read as follows:
         (b)  The governing body of a political subdivision shall
  develop and implement a paid quarantine leave policy for fire
  fighters, peace officers, detention officers, and emergency
  medical technicians who are employed by, appointed by, or elected
  for the political subdivision and ordered to quarantine or isolate
  [due to a possible or known exposure to a communicable disease while
  on duty].
         SECTION 4.  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, 2023.
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