84R11561 PAM-F
	By: West	S.B. No. 1295

	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
	AN ACT
	relating to separate negotiations regarding employment matters for
	police officers and firefighters in certain municipalities.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1.  The heading to Chapter 147, Local Government
	Code, is amended to read as follows:
	CHAPTER 147. LOCAL CONTROL OF FIREFIGHTER [AND POLICE OFFICER]
	EMPLOYMENT MATTERS IN CERTAIN MUNICIPALITIES WITH POPULATION OF ONE
	MILLION OR MORE
	SECTION 2.  Sections 147.003(a), (b), (c), and (d), Local
	Government Code, are amended to read as follows:
	(a)  A meet and confer team is created under this section and
	consists of [the following members:
	[(1)]  members representing the firefighter employee
	groups in the municipality, provided each group may appoint only
	one firefighter of the municipality to serve as a member of the team
	[; and
	[(2)     members representing the police officer employee
	groups in the municipality, provided each group may appoint only
	one police officer of the municipality to serve as a member of the
	team].
	(b)  The meet and confer team represents all firefighters
	[and police officers] in the municipality and shall negotiate with
	the municipality in an effort to reach an agreement on concerns
	shared by the firefighters [and police officers] regarding terms of
	employment, including concerns relating to wages, benefits, and
	other working conditions but excluding concerns relating to
	pensions.  Only the meet and confer team created under this section
	may represent the firefighters [or police officers] of the
	municipality in the capacity described by this subsection, except
	that the team may be accompanied by legal counsel.
	(c)  Concerns relating to affirmative action, employment
	discrimination, hiring, and promotions may be discussed by
	individual firefighter [and police officer] associations
	independent of the meet and confer team.
	(d)  Expenses associated with the meet and confer team must
	be divided pro rata among each firefighter employee group [and
	police officer employee group] based on the number of sworn fire [or
	police] department members represented by each group.
	SECTION 3.  Section 147.0031, Local Government Code, is
	amended to read as follows:
	Sec. 147.0031.  PETITION FOR RECOGNITION: ELECTION OR ACTION
	BY GOVERNING BODY. (a) Not later than the 30th day after the date
	the governing body of a municipality receives from the meet and
	confer team a petition signed by a majority of all [police officers
	and a majority of all] firefighters, excluding the head of the
	[police department, the head of the] fire department [,] and other
	excluded employees as described by Section 147.0035(b), that
	requests recognition of the meet and confer team as the sole and
	exclusive bargaining agent for all the [police officers and]
	firefighters employed by the municipality, excluding the head of
	the [police department, the head of the] fire department [,] and
	other excluded employees as described by Section 147.0035(b), the
	governing body shall:
	(1)  grant recognition of the meet and confer team as
	requested in the petition and determine by majority vote that the
	municipality may meet and confer under this chapter without
	conducting an election by the voters in the municipality under
	Section 147.0033;
	(2)  defer granting recognition of the meet and confer
	team and order an election by the voters in the municipality under
	Section 147.0033 regarding whether the municipality may meet and
	confer under this chapter; or
	(3)  order a certification election under Section
	147.0032 to determine whether the employee groups in the meet and
	confer team represent a majority of the covered [police officers
	and a majority of the covered] firefighters.
	(b)  If the governing body of a municipality orders a
	certification election under Subsection (a)(3) and the employee
	groups that are part of the meet and confer team are certified to
	represent a majority of the covered [police officers and a majority
	of the covered] firefighters, the governing body shall, not later
	than the 30th day after the date that results of that election are
	certified:
	(1)  grant recognition of the meet and confer team as
	requested in the petition for recognition and determine by majority
	vote that the municipality may meet and confer under this chapter
	without conducting an election by the voters in the municipality
	under Section 147.0033; or
	(2)  defer granting recognition of the meet and confer
	team and order an election by the voters in the municipality under
	Section 147.0033 regarding whether a public employer may meet and
	confer under this chapter.
	SECTION 4.  Section 147.0032(a), Local Government Code, is
	amended to read as follows:
	(a)  Except as provided by Subsection (b), a certification
	election ordered under Section 147.0031(a)(3) to determine whether
	the employee groups in the meet and confer team represent a majority
	of the covered [police officers and a majority of the covered]
	firefighters shall be conducted according to procedures agreeable
	to the parties.
	SECTION 5.  Section 147.0033(c), Local Government Code, is
	amended to read as follows:
	(c)  The ballot for an election ordered under this section
	shall be printed to permit voting for or against the
	proposition:  "Authorizing __________ (name of the municipality)
	to operate under the state law allowing a municipality to meet and
	confer and make agreements with the meet and confer team
	representing municipal [police officers and] firefighters as
	provided by state law, preserving the prohibition against strikes
	and organized work stoppages, and providing penalties for strikes
	and organized work stoppages."
	SECTION 6.  Section 147.0034(a), Local Government Code, is
	amended to read as follows:
	(a)  The [police officers and] firefighters may withdraw the
	recognition of the meet and confer team granted under this chapter
	by filing with the governing body of the municipality a petition
	signed by a majority of all covered [police officers and a majority
	of all covered] firefighters.
	SECTION 7.  Section 147.0035, Local Government Code, is
	amended to read as follows:
	Sec. 147.0035.  RECOGNITION OF MEET AND CONFER TEAM. (a) A
	public employer in a municipality that chooses to meet and confer
	under this chapter shall recognize the meet and confer team that is
	recognized under Section 147.0031 or 147.0033 as the sole and
	exclusive bargaining agent for the [police officers and]
	firefighters, excluding the head of the [police department, head of
	the] fire department [,] and the employees exempt under Subsection
	(b), in accordance with this chapter and the petition.
	(b)  For the purposes of Subsection (a), exempt employees are
	employees appointed by the head of the [police department or] fire
	department in the classification immediately below that of
	department head or that are exempt by the mutual agreement of the
	meet and confer team and the municipality.
	(c)  The municipality shall recognize the meet and confer
	team until recognition of the meet and confer team is withdrawn in
	accordance with Section 147.0034 by a majority of the [police
	officers and a majority of the] firefighters who are eligible to
	sign a petition for recognition.
	SECTION 8.  Sections 147.004(a), (c), and (d), Local
	Government Code, are amended to read as follows:
	(a)  A municipality may not be denied local control over the
	wages, salaries, rates of pay, hours of work, and other terms of
	employment, or other state-mandated personnel issues, if the
	municipality and the meet and confer team recognized under Section
	147.0031 or 147.0033 as the sole and exclusive bargaining agent for
	the covered [police officers and] firefighters come to a mutual
	agreement on any of the terms of employment.  If an agreement is not
	reached, the state laws, local ordinances, and civil service rules
	remain unaffected.  All agreements shall be written.  Nothing in
	this chapter requires either party to meet and confer on any issue
	or reach an agreement.
	(c)  Firefighters [and police officers] of a municipality
	may not engage in strikes against this state or a political
	subdivision of this state.  A firefighter [or police officer] who
	participates in a strike forfeits all civil service rights,
	reemployment rights, and any other rights, benefits, or privileges
	the firefighter [or police officer] enjoys as a result of
	employment or prior employment.
	(d)  In this section, "strike" means failing to report for
	duty in concerted action with others, wilfully being absent from an
	assigned position, stopping work, abstaining from the full,
	faithful, and proper performance of the duties of employment, or
	interfering with the operation of a municipality.  However, this
	section does not prohibit a firefighter [or police officer] from
	conferring with members of the municipal governing body about
	conditions, compensation, rights, privileges, or obligations of
	employment.
	SECTION 9.  Section 147.005, Local Government Code, is
	amended to read as follows:
	Sec. 147.005.  PAYROLL DUES DEDUCTIONS. The municipality
	may not prevent automatic payroll deductions for dues paid to a
	firefighter employee group [or police officer employee group].
	SECTION 10.  Section 147.007(a), Local Government Code, is
	amended to read as follows:
	(a)  A written agreement made under this chapter between a
	municipality and the meet and confer team is enforceable and
	binding on the municipality, the meet and confer team, firefighter
	employee groups, [police officer employee groups,] and the
	firefighters [and police officers] covered by the agreement if:
	(1)  the municipality's governing body ratified the
	agreement by a majority vote; and
	(2)  the agreement is ratified under Section 147.008.
	SECTION 11.  Sections 147.008(b) and (d), Local Government
	Code, are amended to read as follows:
	(b)  All firefighters [and police officers] of the
	municipality are eligible to vote in the election.
	(d)  A firefighter [or police officer] who is not a member of
	a firefighter employee group [or a police officer employee group]
	may be assessed a fee for any cost associated with casting the
	firefighter's [or police officer's] vote.
	SECTION 12.  Section 147.009(d), Local Government Code, is
	amended to read as follows:
	(d)  The ballot for an election ordered under Subsection (b)
	shall be printed to allow voting for or against the
	proposition:  "Authorizing __________ (name of the municipality)
	to continue to operate under the state law allowing a municipality
	to meet and confer and make agreements with the meet and confer team
	representing municipal [police officers and] firefighters as
	provided by state law, preserving the prohibition against strikes
	and organized work stoppages, and providing penalties for strikes
	and organized work stoppages."
	SECTION 13.  Chapter 147, Local Government Code, is amended
	by adding Section 147.0091 to read as follows:
	Sec. 147.0091.  TEMPORARY PROVISION: ACTION TO WITHDRAW
	RECOGNITION OF POLICE OFFICER AND FIREFIGHTER MEET AND CONFER TEAM
	UNDER THIS CHAPTER. (a) Notwithstanding Sections 147.009(b)
	through (g), the governing body of a municipality that granted
	recognition of a meet and confer team as the sole and exclusive
	bargaining agent of all police officers and firefighters under
	Section 147.0031 before September 1, 2015, shall, not later than
	September 30, 2015, withdraw recognition of the meet and confer
	team by providing to the meet and confer team written notice that:
	(1)  pursuant to __.B. No. __, Acts of the 84th
	Legislature, Regular Session, 2015, the governing body is
	withdrawing recognition of the meet and confer team;  and
	(2)  any agreement between the governing body and the
	meet and confer team will not be renewed.
	(b)  This section expires September 1, 2025.
	SECTION 14.  Sections 147.010(a) and (c), Local Government
	Code, are amended to read as follows:
	(a)  Not later than the 60th day after the date a meet and
	confer agreement is ratified by the governing body of the
	municipality and the firefighters [and police officers] under
	Section 147.008, a petition calling for the repeal of the agreement
	signed by a number of registered voters residing in the
	municipality equal to at least 10 percent of the votes cast at the
	most recent general election held in the municipality may be
	presented to the person charged with ordering an election under
	Section 3.004, Election Code.
	(c)  An election called under Subsection (b)(2) may be held
	as part of the next regularly scheduled general election for the
	municipality.  The ballot shall be printed to provide for voting
	for or against the proposition:  "Repeal the meet and confer
	agreement ratified on __________ (date agreement was ratified) by
	the __________ (name of the governing body of the municipality) and
	the [police officers and] firefighters employed by the City of
	__________ (name of municipality) concerning wages, salaries,
	rates of pay, hours of work, and other terms of employment."
	SECTION 15.  Section 147.011, Local Government Code, is
	amended to read as follows:
	Sec. 147.011.  EFFECT ON EXISTING BENEFITS AND RIGHTS. (a)
	This chapter may not be construed to repeal any existing benefit
	provided by statute or ordinance concerning [police officers' or]
	firefighters' compensation, pensions, retirement plans, hours of
	work, conditions of employment, or other emoluments except as
	expressly provided in a ratified meet and confer agreement.  This
	chapter is in addition to the benefits provided by existing
	statutes and ordinances.
	(b)  This chapter may not be construed to interfere with the
	free speech right, guaranteed by the First Amendment to the United
	States Constitution, of an individual firefighter [or a police
	officer] to endorse or dissent from any agreement.
	SECTION 16.  Subtitle A, Title 5, Local Government Code, is
	amended by adding Chapter 148 to read as follows:
	CHAPTER 148. LOCAL CONTROL OF POLICE OFFICER EMPLOYMENT MATTERS IN
	CERTAIN MUNICIPALITIES WITH POPULATION OF ONE MILLION OR MORE
	Sec. 148.001.  APPLICABILITY. This chapter applies only to
	a municipality with a population of one million or more, but does
	not apply to a municipality that has adopted Chapter 143 or 174.
	Sec. 148.002.  DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
	(1)  "Police officer" means a sworn police officer
	employed by the municipality who is covered by the municipality's
	police pension plan and is classified by the municipality as
	nonexempt. The term does not include a police officer with a rank
	above that of captain, a civilian, or a municipal marshal.
	(2)  "Police officer employee group" means an
	organization:
	(A)  in which, on or before September 1, 2007, at
	least three percent of the police officers of the municipality have
	participated and paid dues via automatic payroll deduction; and
	(B)  that exists for the purpose, in whole or in
	part, of dealing with the municipality concerning grievances, labor
	disputes, wages, rates of pay, hours of employment, or conditions
	of employment affecting police officers.
	Sec. 148.003.  MEET AND CONFER TEAM; NEGOTIATIONS. (a) A
	meet and confer team is created under this section and consists of
	members representing the police officer employee groups in the
	municipality, provided each group may appoint only one police
	officer of the municipality to serve as a member of the team.
	(b)  The meet and confer team represents all police officers
	in the municipality and shall negotiate with the municipality in an
	effort to reach an agreement on concerns shared by the police
	officers regarding terms of employment, including concerns
	relating to wages, benefits, and other working conditions but
	excluding concerns relating to pensions. Only the meet and confer
	team created under this section may represent the police officers
	of the municipality in the capacity described by this subsection,
	except that the team may be accompanied by a representative of the
	team's choosing to assist with the negotiation process.
	(c)  Concerns relating to affirmative action, employment
	discrimination, hiring, and promotions may be discussed by
	individual police officer associations independent of the meet and
	confer team.
	(d)  Expenses associated with the meet and confer team must
	be divided pro rata among each police officer employee group based
	on the number of sworn police department members represented by
	each group.
	(e)  A municipality may designate one or more persons to meet
	and confer on the municipality's behalf.
	Sec. 148.0031.  PETITION FOR RECOGNITION: ELECTION OR ACTION
	BY GOVERNING BODY. (a) Not later than the 30th day after the date
	the governing body of a municipality receives from the meet and
	confer team a petition signed by a majority of all police officers,
	excluding the head of the police department and other excluded
	employees as described by Section 148.0035(b), that requests
	recognition of the meet and confer team as the sole and exclusive
	bargaining agent for all the police officers employed by the
	municipality, excluding the head of the police department and other
	excluded employees as described by Section 148.0035(b), the
	governing body shall:
	(1)  grant recognition of the meet and confer team as
	requested in the petition and determine by majority vote that the
	municipality may meet and confer under this chapter without
	conducting an election by the voters in the municipality under
	Section 148.0033;
	(2)  defer granting recognition of the meet and confer
	team and order an election by the voters in the municipality under
	Section 148.0033 regarding whether the municipality may meet and
	confer under this chapter; or
	(3)  order a certification election under Section
	148.0032 to determine whether the employee groups in the meet and
	confer team represent a majority of the covered police officers.
	(b)  If the governing body of a municipality orders a
	certification election under Subsection (a)(3) and the employee
	groups that are part of the meet and confer team are certified to
	represent a majority of the covered police officers, the governing
	body shall, not later than the 30th day after the date that results
	of that election are certified:
	(1)  grant recognition of the meet and confer team as
	requested in the petition for recognition and determine by majority
	vote that the municipality may meet and confer under this chapter
	without conducting an election by the voters in the municipality
	under Section 148.0033; or
	(2)  defer granting recognition of the meet and confer
	team and order an election by the voters in the municipality under
	Section 148.0033 regarding whether a public employer may meet and
	confer under this chapter.
	Sec. 148.0032.  CERTIFICATION ELECTION. (a) Except as
	provided by Subsection (b), a certification election ordered under
	Section 148.0031(a)(3) to determine whether the employee groups in
	the meet and confer team represent a majority of the covered police
	officers shall be conducted according to procedures agreeable to
	the parties.
	(b)  If the parties are unable to agree on procedures for the
	certification election, either party may request the American
	Arbitration Association to conduct the election and to certify the
	results of the election.
	(c)  Certification of the results of an election under this
	section resolves the question concerning representation.
	(d)  Each employee group in the meet and confer team is
	liable for the expenses of the certification election for the
	employees the group represents.
	Sec. 148.0033.  ELECTION TO AUTHORIZE OPERATING UNDER THIS
	CHAPTER. (a) The governing body of a municipality that receives a
	petition for recognition under Section 148.0031 may order an
	election to determine whether a public employer may meet and confer
	under this chapter.
	(b)  An election ordered under this section must be held as
	part of the next regularly scheduled general election for municipal
	officials that is held after the date the governing body of the
	municipality orders the election and that allows sufficient time to
	prepare the ballot in compliance with other requirements of law.
	(c)  The ballot for an election ordered under this section
	shall be printed to permit voting for or against the proposition:
	"Authorizing __________ (name of the municipality) to operate under
	the state law allowing a municipality to meet and confer and make
	agreements with the meet and confer team representing municipal
	police officers as provided by state law, preserving the
	prohibition against strikes and organized work stoppages, and
	providing penalties for strikes and organized work stoppages."
	(d)  An election called under this section must be held and
	the returns prepared and canvassed in conformity with the Election
	Code.
	(e)  If an election authorized under this section is held,
	the municipality may operate under the other provisions of this
	chapter only if a majority of the votes cast at the election favor
	the proposition.
	(f)  If an election authorized under this section is held, a
	meet and confer team may not submit a petition for recognition to
	the governing body of the municipality under Section 148.0031
	before the second anniversary of the date of the election.
	Sec. 148.0034.  WITHDRAWAL OF RECOGNITION. (a) The police
	officers may withdraw the recognition of the meet and confer team
	granted under this chapter by filing with the governing body of the
	municipality a petition signed by a majority of all covered police
	officers.
	(b)  The governing body of the municipality may:
	(1)  withdraw recognition as provided by the petition;
	or
	(2)  order a certification election in accordance with
	Section 148.0032 regarding whether to do so.
	Sec. 148.0035.  RECOGNITION OF MEET AND CONFER TEAM. (a) A
	public employer in a municipality that chooses to meet and confer
	under this chapter shall recognize the meet and confer team that is
	recognized under Section 148.0031 or 148.0033 as the sole and
	exclusive bargaining agent for the police officers, excluding the
	head of the police department and the employees exempt under
	Subsection (b), in accordance with this chapter and the petition.
	(b)  For the purposes of Subsection (a), exempt employees are
	employees appointed by the head of the police department in the
	classification immediately below that of department head or that
	are exempt by the mutual agreement of the meet and confer team and
	the municipality.
	(c)  The municipality shall recognize the meet and confer
	team until recognition of the meet and confer team is withdrawn in
	accordance with Section 148.0034 by a majority of the police
	officers who are eligible to sign a petition for recognition.
	Sec. 148.004.  GENERAL PROVISIONS RELATING TO AGREEMENTS,
	RECOGNITION, AND STRIKES. (a) A municipality may not be denied
	local control over the wages, salaries, rates of pay, hours of work,
	and other terms of employment, or other state-mandated personnel
	issues, if the municipality and the meet and confer team recognized
	under Section 148.0031 or 148.0033 as the sole and exclusive
	bargaining agent for the covered police officers come to a mutual
	agreement on any of the terms of employment. If an agreement is not
	reached, the state laws, local ordinances, and civil service rules
	remain unaffected. All agreements shall be written. Nothing in
	this chapter requires either party to meet and confer on any issue
	or reach an agreement.
	(b)  A municipality may meet and confer only if the meet and
	confer team does not advocate the illegal right to strike by public
	employees.
	(c)  Police officers of a municipality may not engage in
	strikes against this state or a political subdivision of this
	state. A police officer who participates in a strike forfeits all
	civil service rights, reemployment rights, and any other rights,
	benefits, or privileges the police officer enjoys as a result of
	employment or prior employment.
	(d)  In this section, "strike" means failing to report for
	duty in concerted action with others, wilfully being absent from an
	assigned position, stopping work, abstaining from the full,
	faithful, and proper performance of the duties of employment, or
	interfering with the operation of a municipality. However, this
	section does not prohibit a police officer from conferring with
	members of the municipal governing body about conditions,
	compensation, rights, privileges, or obligations of employment.
	Sec. 148.005.  PAYROLL DUES DEDUCTIONS. The municipality
	may not prevent automatic payroll deductions for dues paid to a
	police officer employee group.
	Sec. 148.006.  RECORDS AND MEETINGS. (a) An agreement made
	under this chapter is public information for purposes of Chapter
	552, Government Code. The agreement and any document prepared and
	used by the municipality in connection with the agreement, except
	for materials created during a municipality's caucuses and notes
	that are otherwise privileged by law, are available to the public in
	accordance with Chapter 552, Government Code, only after the
	agreement is ratified by both parties.
	(b)  This section does not affect the application of
	Subchapter C, Chapter 552, Government Code, to a document prepared
	and used by the municipality in connection with the agreement.
	Sec. 148.007.  ENFORCEABILITY OF AGREEMENT. (a) A written
	agreement made under this chapter between a municipality and the
	meet and confer team is enforceable and binding on the
	municipality, the meet and confer team, police officer employee
	groups, and the police officers covered by the agreement if:
	(1)  the municipality's governing body ratified the
	agreement by a majority vote; and
	(2)  the agreement is ratified under Section 148.008.
	(b)  A state district court of the judicial district in which
	a majority of the population of the municipality is located has full
	authority and jurisdiction on the application of either party
	aggrieved by an action or omission of the other party when the
	action or omission is related to a right, duty, or obligation
	provided by any written agreement ratified as required by this
	chapter. The court may issue proper restraining orders, temporary
	and permanent injunctions, and any other writ, order, or process,
	including contempt orders, that are appropriate to enforcing any
	written agreement ratified as required by this chapter.
	Sec. 148.008.  ELECTION TO RATIFY AGREEMENT. (a) The meet
	and confer team shall call an election to ratify any agreement
	reached with the municipality if the agreement has been approved by
	a unanimous vote of the members of the meet and confer team.
	(b)  All police officers of the municipality are eligible to
	vote in the election.
	(c)  An agreement may be ratified under this section only if
	at least 50 percent of the votes cast in the election favor the
	ratification.
	(d)  A police officer who is not a member of a police officer
	employee group may be assessed a fee for any cost associated with
	casting the police officer's vote.
	(e)  The meet and confer team shall establish procedures for
	the election by unanimous consensus.
	Sec. 148.009.  ACTION OR ELECTION TO REPEAL AUTHORIZATION TO
	OPERATE UNDER THIS CHAPTER. (a) The governing body of a
	municipality that granted recognition of a meet and confer team
	under Section 148.0031 without conducting an election under Section
	148.0033 may withdraw recognition of the meet and confer team by
	providing to the meet and confer team not less than 90 days' written
	notice that:
	(1)  the governing body is withdrawing recognition of
	the meet and confer team; and
	(2)  any agreement between the governing body and the
	meet and confer team will not be renewed.
	(b)  The governing body of a municipality that granted
	recognition of a meet and confer team after conducting an election
	under Section 148.0033 may order an election to determine whether a
	public employer may continue to meet and confer under this chapter.
	The governing body may not order an election under this subsection
	until the second anniversary of the date of the election under
	Section 148.0033.
	(c)  An election ordered under Subsection (b) must be held as
	part of the next regularly scheduled general election for municipal
	officers that occurs after the date the governing body of the
	municipality orders the election and that allows sufficient time to
	prepare the ballot in compliance with other requirements of law.
	(d)  The ballot for an election ordered under Subsection (b)
	shall be printed to allow voting for or against the proposition:
	"Authorizing __________ (name of the municipality) to continue to
	operate under the state law allowing a municipality to meet and
	confer and make agreements with the meet and confer team
	representing municipal police officers as provided by state law,
	preserving the prohibition against strikes and organized work
	stoppages, and providing penalties for strikes and organized work
	stoppages."
	(e)  An election ordered under Subsection (b) must be held
	and the returns prepared and canvassed in conformity with the
	Election Code.
	(f)  If an election ordered under Subsection (b) is held, the
	municipality may continue to operate under this chapter only if a
	majority of the votes cast at the election favor the proposition.
	(g)  If an election ordered under Subsection (b) is held, a
	meet and confer team may not submit a petition for recognition to
	the governing body of the municipality under Section 148.0031
	before the second anniversary of the date of the election.
	Sec. 148.010.  ELECTION TO REPEAL AGREEMENT. (a) Not later
	than the 60th day after the date a meet and confer agreement is
	ratified by the governing body of the municipality and the police
	officers under Section 148.008, a petition calling for the repeal
	of the agreement signed by a number of registered voters residing in
	the municipality equal to at least 10 percent of the votes cast at
	the most recent general election held in the municipality may be
	presented to the person charged with ordering an election under
	Section 3.004, Election Code.
	(b)  If a petition is presented under Subsection (a), the
	governing body of the municipality shall:
	(1)  repeal the meet and confer agreement; or
	(2)  certify that the governing body is not repealing
	the agreement and call an election to determine whether to repeal
	the agreement.
	(c)  An election called under Subsection (b)(2) may be held
	as part of the next regularly scheduled general election for the
	municipality. The ballot shall be printed to provide for voting for
	or against the proposition: "Repeal the meet and confer agreement
	ratified on __________ (date agreement was ratified) by the
	__________ (name of the governing body of the municipality) and the
	police officers employed by the City of __________ (name of
	municipality) concerning wages, salaries, rates of pay, hours of
	work, and other terms of employment."
	(d)  If a majority of the votes cast at the election favor the
	repeal of the agreement, the agreement is void.
	Sec. 148.011.  EFFECT ON EXISTING BENEFITS AND RIGHTS. (a)
	This chapter may not be construed to repeal any existing benefit
	provided by statute or ordinance concerning police officers'
	compensation, pensions, retirement plans, hours of work,
	conditions of employment, or other emoluments except as expressly
	provided in a ratified meet and confer agreement. This chapter is
	in addition to the benefits provided by existing statutes and
	ordinances.
	(b)  This chapter may not be construed to interfere with the
	free speech right, guaranteed by the First Amendment to the United
	States Constitution, of an individual police officer to endorse or
	dissent from any agreement.
	SECTION 17.  Sections 147.002(3) and (4), Local Government
	Code, are repealed.
	SECTION 18.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.