Bill Text: TX SB736 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Enrolled

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Bill Title: Relating to mandatory arbitration for certain municipal fire departments and employee bargaining agents.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-0)

Status: (Passed) 2023-06-02 - Effective immediately [SB736 Detail]

Download: Texas-2023-SB736-Enrolled.html

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S.B. No. 736

AN ACT
relating to mandatory arbitration for certain municipal fire
departments and employee bargaining agents.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 174.153(a), Local Government Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(a) Except as provided by Section 174.1535, a [A] public
employer or an association that is a bargaining agent may request
the appointment of an arbitration board if:
(1) the parties:
(A) reach an impasse in collective bargaining; or
(B) are unable to settle after 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.
SECTION 2. Subchapter E, Chapter 174, Local Government
Code, is amended by adding Section 174.1535 to read as follows:
Sec. 174.1535. MANDATORY ARBITRATION. (a) This section
applies only to:
(1) a fire department that serves a municipality with
a population of 1.9 million or more; and
(2) an association that is a bargaining agent for the
employees of a fire department described by Subdivision (1).
(b) A public employer and an association that is a
bargaining agent shall submit to binding interest arbitration if
the parties:
(1) reach an impasse in collective bargaining; or
(2) are unable to settle after the 61st day after the
date the appropriate lawmaking body fails to approve a contract
reached through collective bargaining.
(c) Each party shall send to the other party a written
notice specifying each issue in dispute for purposes of binding
arbitration not later than the fifth day after:
(1) the date an impasse was reached under Section
174.152;
(2) the expiration of an extension period under
Section 174.152; or
(3) the expiration of the period described by
Subsection (b)(2).
(d) A notice under Subsection (c) is considered sent on the
date the notice is placed in the mail, personally delivered, or
transmitted by e-mail or any other means of electronic transfer.
SECTION 3. 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.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 736 passed the Senate on
March 27, 2023, by the following vote: Yeas 29, Nays 0.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 736 passed the House on
May 22, 2023, by the following vote: Yeas 135, Nays 10, one
present not voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
Approved:
______________________________
Date
______________________________
Governor