Sec. 143.304. RECOGNITION OF FIRE FIGHTERS OR POLICE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION. (a) The public employer may recognize an association that submits a petition signed by a majority of the paid fire fighters or police officers in the municipality, excluding the head of the department and assistant department heads in the rank or classification immediately below that of the department head, as the sole and exclusive bargaining agent for all of the covered fire fighters or police officers unless recognition of the association is withdrawn by a majority of the covered fire fighters or police officers.
(b) A question of whether an association is the majority representative of the covered fire fighters or police officers shall be resolved by a fair election conducted according to procedures agreed on by the parties. If the parties are unable to agree on election procedures, either party may request the American Arbitration Association to conduct the election and to certify the results. Certification of the results of an election under this subsection resolves the question concerning representation. The association shall pay the costs of the election, except that if two or more associations seeking recognition as the bargaining agent submit petitions signed by a majority of the covered fire fighters or police officers, the associations shall share equally the costs of the election.
(c) The public employer's manager or chief executive and the police chief or fire chief, as appropriate, shall designate a team to represent the public employer as its sole and exclusive bargaining agent for issues related to the fire department and a separate team to represent the public employer as its sole and exclusive bargaining agent for issues related to the police department.
Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 1003, Sec. 1, eff. Aug. 28, 1995.
Structure Texas Statutes
Title 5 - Matters Affecting Public Officers and Employees
Subtitle A - Municipal Officers and Employees
Chapter 143 - Municipal Civil Service for Firefighters and Police Officers
Subchapter I. Fire Fighter and Police Officer Employment Matters in Certain Municipalities
Section 143.301. Municipalities Covered by Subchapter
Section 143.3015. Limitation on Municipalities Covered by Subchapter: Voter Approval
Section 143.303. General Provisions Relating to Agreements, Recognition, and Strikes
Section 143.304. Recognition of Fire Fighters or Police Officers Association
Section 143.305. Open Records Required
Section 143.306. Enforceability of Agreement
Section 143.307. Agreement Supersedes Conflicting Provisions
Section 143.308. Repeal of Agreement by Electorate
Section 143.309. Protected Rights of Individual Employees
Section 143.310. Binding Interest Arbitration
Section 143.311. Appointments to Classification Immediately Below Department Head
Section 143.312. Investigation of Fire Fighters and Police Officers