HBA-TBM H.B. 1666 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1666 By: Bailey County Affairs 4/22/2001 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Currently, Harris County Deputy Constables are not authorized to create a civil service system. This deprives the constables of rights and protections provided to the Harris County Deputy Sheriffs, creating a detrimental effect on the constabulary's ability to hire and retain employees. House Bill 1666 authorizes a constable's office in a county with a population of 2.8 million or more to create a civil service system. 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. ANALYSIS House Bill 1666 amends the Local Government Code to authorize the employees of a constable's office in a county with a population of 2.8 million or more to create a civil service system (system) for that individual constable's office (Sec. 158.061). The bill sets forth provisions relating to the petition and election for the creation of a system (Sec. 158.063). The bill sets forth provisions regarding the creation of a civil service commission (commission) that administers the system and the appointment of members to the commission (Sec. 158.064). The bill sets forth the powers of the commission and authorizes the commission to adopt rules that are consistent with the needs and circumstances of the constable's office (Sec. 158.065). The bill sets forth provisions regarding the process by which an employee who is the subject of a disciplinary action can appeal that decision to the constable (Sec. 158.067). The bills sets forth provisions regarding the process by which an employee can appeal a constable's decision to the commission (Sec. 158.068). The bills establishes the process by which an employee can appeal a commission's appellate decision in a district court in the county (Sec. 158.069). The bill prohibits ex parte communications regarding any matter subject to a hearing (Sec. 158.070). The bill sets forth procedures a constable is required to follow if an employee of the system is charged with a felony or misdemeanor offense (Sec. 158.071). The bill sets forth provisions that exempt certain employees from taking a competitive examination or performing any other act to maintain the employee's employment (Sec. 158.072). The bill sets forth provisions by which the system may be dissolved (Sec. 158.073). EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2001.