Bill Text: TX SB1660 | 2021-2022 | 87th Legislature | Introduced

---

Bill Title: Relating to payroll deductions for state and local government employee organizations.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-03-24 - Referred to State Affairs [SB1660 Detail]

Download: Texas-2021-SB1660-Introduced.html

---

87R1264 JTS-D
By: Bettencourt S.B. No. 1660

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to payroll deductions for state and local government
employee organizations.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 22.001(a), Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(a) A school district employee who is employed in a
professional law enforcement capacity is entitled to have an amount
deducted from the employee's salary for membership fees or dues to a
professional organization. The employee must:
(1) file with the district a signed written request
identifying the organization and specifying the number of pay
periods per year the deductions are to be made; and
(2) inform the district of the total amount of the fees
and dues for each year or have the organization notify the district
of the amount.
SECTION 2. The heading to Section 403.0165, Government
Code, is amended to read as follows:
Sec. 403.0165. PAYROLL DEDUCTION FOR STATE EMPLOYEE
ORGANIZATION: CERTAIN FIREFIGHTERS, POLICE OFFICERS, AND
EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES PERSONNEL.
SECTION 3. Sections 403.0165(a), (b), (c), and (d),
Government Code, are amended to read as follows:
(a) A covered [An] employee [of a state agency] may
authorize a transfer each pay period from the employee's salary or
wage payment for a membership fee in an eligible state employee
organization. The authorization shall remain in effect until the
[an] employee authorizes a change in the authorization.
Authorizations and changes in authorizations must be provided in
accordance with rules adopted by the comptroller.
(b) The comptroller shall adopt rules for transfers by
covered employees to a certified eligible state employee
organization. The rules may authorize electronic transfers of
amounts deducted from covered employees' salaries and wages under
this section.
(c) Participation by covered employees [of state agencies]
in the payroll deduction program authorized by this section is
voluntary.
(d) To be certified by the comptroller, a state employee
organization must have a current dues structure for covered [state]
employees in place and operating in this state for a period of at
least 18 months.
SECTION 4. Section 403.0165(l), Government Code, is amended
by adding Subdivision (3) to read as follows:
(3) "Covered employee" means:
(A) an individual employed by a state agency in a
professional law enforcement or firefighting capacity; or
(B) an individual employed by a state agency in a
capacity that meets the definition of "emergency medical services
personnel," as that term is defined by Section 773.003, Health and
Safety Code.
SECTION 5. The heading to Chapter 617, Government Code, is
amended to read as follows:
CHAPTER 617. COLLECTIVE BARGAINING, [AND] STRIKES, AND PAYROLL
DEDUCTIONS
SECTION 6. Chapter 617, Government Code, is amended by
adding Section 617.006 to read as follows:
Sec. 617.006. PROHIBITION ON COLLECTION OF LABOR
ORGANIZATION DUES. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b), the
state or a political subdivision of the state may not deduct or
withhold, or contract to deduct or withhold, from an employee's
salary or wages payment of dues or membership fees to a labor
organization or other similar entity, including a trade union,
labor union, employees' association, or professional organization.
(b) Subsection (a) does not apply to deductions or
withholdings by:
(1) a state agency under Section 403.0165 or 659.1031;
or
(2) a political subdivision:
(A) under Section 141.008 or 155.001(a)(2),
Local Government Code; or
(B) under the terms of an agreement entered into
under:
(i) Subchapter B or C, Chapter 142, Local
Government Code; or
(ii) Chapter 174, Local Government Code.
(c) Subsection (a) does not affect the ability of the state
or a political subdivision of the state to deduct or withhold from
an employee's salary or wages an amount for donation to a charitable
organization determined to be eligible for participation in the
state employee charitable campaign under Subchapter I, Chapter 659.
SECTION 7. Section 659.1031(a), Government Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(a) An employee of a state agency employed in a professional
law enforcement capacity may authorize in writing a deduction each
pay period from the employee's salary or wage payment for payment to
an eligible state employee organization of a membership fee in the
organization.
SECTION 8. The heading to Section 141.008, Local Government
Code, is amended to read as follows:
Sec. 141.008. PAYROLL DEDUCTIONS FOR CERTAIN MUNICIPAL
FIREFIGHTERS, POLICE OFFICERS, AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES
PERSONNEL [IN CERTAIN MUNICIPALITIES].
SECTION 9. Section 141.008, Local Government Code, is
amended by amending Subsections (a), (a-1), and (a-2) and adding
Subsection (a-3) to read as follows:
(a) This section applies only to a municipal employee who
is:
(1) a member of the municipality's fire or police
department; or
(2) emergency medical services personnel, as defined
by Section 773.003, Health and Safety Code.
(a-1) The governing body of a municipality with a population
of more than 10,000 may deduct from a municipal employee's monthly
salary or wages an amount requested in writing by the employee in
payment of membership dues to a bona fide employees' association
named by the employee.
(a-2) [(a-1)] The governing body shall make the payroll
deduction described by Subsection (a-1) [(a)] if requested in
writing by an employee who is a member of the municipality's fire
department or emergency medical services personnel [employees who
are fire protection personnel as defined by Section 419.021,
Government Code,] if the municipality:
(1) receives revenue from the state;[,] and
(2) [if the municipality] permits deductions for
purposes other than charity, health insurance, taxes, or other
purposes for which the municipality is required by law to permit a
deduction.
(a-3) [(a-2)] The governing body of a municipality whose
police department is not covered by a collective bargaining
agreement or meet and confer agreement entered into under this code
shall make the payroll deduction described by Subsection (a-1)
[(a)] if:
(1) requested in writing by an employee who is a member
of the municipality's police department [employees who:
[(A) are peace officers as defined by Article
2.12, Code of Criminal Procedure; and
[(B) are not members of a police department
covered by a collective bargaining agreement or meet-and-confer
agreement entered into under this code]; and
(2) the municipality permits deductions for purposes
other than charity, health insurance, taxes, or other purposes for
which the municipality is required by law to permit a deduction.
SECTION 10. Section 146.002(2), Local Government Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(2) "Employee association" means an organization in
which municipal employees participate and that exists for the
purpose, wholly or partly, of dealing with one or more employers,
whether public or private, concerning grievances, labor disputes,
wages, rates of pay, hours of employment, or conditions of work
affecting public employees [and whose members pay dues by means of
an automatic payroll deduction].
SECTION 11. Section 146.003, Local Government Code, is
amended by adding Subsection (e) to read as follows:
(e) This chapter does not authorize an agreement for
deducting or withholding payment of dues, fees, or contributions to
a labor organization or other similar entity, including a trade
union, labor union, employees' association, or professional
organization in violation of Section 617.006, Government Code.
SECTION 12. Section 146.017, Local Government Code, is
amended to read as follows:
Sec. 146.017. AGREEMENT SUPERSEDES CONFLICTING PROVISIONS.
(a) Except as provided by Subsection (b), a [A] written meet and
confer agreement ratified under this chapter preempts, during the
term of the agreement and to the extent of any conflict, all
contrary state statutes, local ordinances, executive orders, civil
service provisions, or rules adopted by this state or a political
subdivision or agent of this state, including a personnel board,
civil service commission, or home-rule municipality, other than a
statute, ordinance, executive order, civil service provision, or
rule regarding pensions or pension-related matters.
(b) A written meet and confer agreement ratified under this
chapter may not conflict with or preempt Section 617.006,
Government Code.
SECTION 13. Section 155.001(a), Local Government Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(a) The commissioners court, on the request of a county
employee, may authorize a payroll deduction to be made from the
employee's wages or salary for:
(1) payment to a credit union;
(2) payment of membership dues in a labor union or a
bona fide employees association if the requesting employee serves:
(A) in a professional law enforcement or
firefighting capacity; or
(B) in a capacity that meets the definition of
"emergency medical services personnel," as that term is defined by
Section 773.003, Health and Safety Code;
(3) payment of fees for parking in a county-owned
facility;
(4) payment to a charitable organization; or
(5) payment relating to an item not listed in this
subsection if the commissioners court determines that the payment
serves a public purpose, unless the deduction would violate another
law, including Section 617.006, Government Code.
SECTION 14. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.