Texas HB 2927: Relating to quarantine leave for certain public safety employees.

Bill Text

By:AATurner H.B.ANo.A2927
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to quarantine leave for certain public safety employees.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTIONA1.AAChapter 607, Government Code, is amended by
adding Subchapter D to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER D. QUARANTINE LEAVE FOR CERTAIN PUBLIC SAFETY EMPLOYEES
Sec.A607.151.AADEFINITIONS. (a) In this subchapter:
(1)AA"Detention officer" means an individual employed
by the state to ensure the safekeeping of prisoners and the security
of a state penal institution in this state.
(2)AA"Emergency medical technician" means an
individual who is:
(A)AAcertified as an emergency medical technician
under Chapter 773, Health and Safety Code; and
(B)AAemployed by the state.
(3)AA"Firefighter" means a paid employee of the state
who:
(A)AAholds a position that requires substantial
knowledge of firefighting;
(B)AAhas met the requirements for certification by
the Texas Commission on Fire Protection under Chapter 419; and
(C)AAperforms a function listed in Section
143.003(4)(A), Local Government Code.
(4)AA"Health authority" has the meaning assigned by
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Section 121.021, Health and Safety Code.
(5)AA"Ordered to quarantine or isolate" means any
circumstance in which a person is not permitted to continue working
due to:
(A)AAa written or verbal directive by a health
authority or the employee’s supervisor ordering the person to
refrain from reporting to duty after displaying symptoms of a
communicable disease; or
(B)AAa written or verbal directive by a health
authority or the employee’s supervisor ordering the person to
refrain from reporting to duty after being exposed to a
communicable disease that is a presumptive illness under this
chapter.
(6)AA"Peace officer" means an individual described by
Article 2.12, Code of Criminal Procedure, who is elected for,
employed by, or appointed by the state.
(b)AANotwithstanding Section 607.001, in this subchapter,
"public safety employee" means a detention officer, emergency
medical technician, firefighter, or peace officer.
Sec.A607.152.AAAPAID QUARANTINE LEAVE FOR CERTAIN PUBLIC
SAFETY EMPLOYEES. (a) A state agency that employs public safety
employees shall develop and implement a paid quarantine leave
policy for public safety employees who are ordered to quarantine or
isolate.
(b)AAA paid quarantine leave policy must provide that a
public safety employee ordered to quarantine or isolate receive:
(1)AAall employment benefits and compensation,
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including leave accrual, pension benefits, and health benefit plan
benefits for the duration of the leave; and
(2)AAreimbursement for reasonable costs related to the
quarantine, including lodging, medical, and transportation.
(c)AAThe state agency may not reduce a public safety
employee’s sick leave balance, vacation leave balance, or other
paid leave balance in connection with paid quarantine leave taken
in accordance with a policy adopted under this section.
SECTIONA2.AASection 180.008(a), Local Government Code, as
added by Chapter 685 (H.B. 2073), Acts of the 87th Legislature,
Regular Session, 2021, is amended by adding Subdivision (4-a) to
read as follows:
(4-a)AA"Ordered to quarantine or isolate" means any
circumstance in which a person is not permitted to continue working
due to:
(A)AAa written or verbal directive by a health
authority or the employee’s supervisor ordering the person to
refrain from reporting to duty after displaying symptoms of a
communicable disease; or
(B)AAa written or verbal directive by a health
authority or the employee’s supervisor ordering the person to
refrain from reporting to duty after being exposed to a
communicable disease that is a presumptive illness under this
chapter.
SECTIONA3.AASection 180.008(b), Local Government Code, as
added by Chapter 685 (H.B. 2073), Acts of the 87th Legislature,
Regular Session, 2021, is amended to read as follows:
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(b)AAThe governing body of a political subdivision shall
develop and implement a paid quarantine leave policy for fire
fighters, peace officers, detention officers, and emergency
medical technicians who are employed by, appointed by, or elected
for the political subdivision and ordered to quarantine or isolate
[due to a possible or known exposure to a communicable disease while
on duty].
SECTIONA4.AAThis 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.
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