HBA-SEB H.B. 3725 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 3725
By: Bailey
Urban Affairs
4/1/1999
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, Subchapter G of the Local Government Code establishes provisions
for fire and police departments in cities of 1.5 million or more.  H.B.
3725 amends that subchapter to put into place minimum staffing requirements
for each fire engine, ladder truck, and rescue truck in order to ensure
that each fire apparatus is properly staffed.     

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Subchapter G, Chapter 143, Local Government Code, by
adding Section 143.1053, as follows: 

Sec. 143.1053.  MINIMUM STAFFING FOR FIRE APPARATUS.  Establishes that each
engine, ladder truck, and rescue truck placed in operation by the fire
department during a shift will be staffed with a minimum of two fire
fighters in the lowest level non-probationary fire fighter classification.
Provides the following set-up:  one fire fighter in the second lowest
non-probationary fire fighter classification and one fire fighter in the
third lowest nonprobationary fire fighter classification for engines, and
one fire fighter in the fourth lowest non-probationary fire fighter
classification for ladder trucks and rescue trucks.   

SECTION 2.  Effective date: September 1, 1999.

SECTION 3.  Emergency clause.