2005 Texas Local Government Code CHAPTER 180. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS AFFECTING OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES OF MUNICIPALITIES, COUNTIES, AND CERTAIN OTHER LOCAL GOVERNMENTS

LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE

CHAPTER 180. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS AFFECTING OFFICERS AND 
EMPLOYEES OF MUNICIPALITIES, COUNTIES, AND CERTAIN OTHER LOCAL 
GOVERNMENTS


	§ 180.001. COERCION OF POLICE OFFICER OR FIRE FIGHTER IN 
CONNECTION WITH POLITICAL CAMPAIGN.  (a) An individual commits an 
offense if the individual coerces a police officer or a fire fighter 
to participate or to refrain from participating in a political 
campaign.
	(b)  An offense under this section is a misdemeanor and is 
punishable by a fine of not less than $500 or more than $2,000, 
confinement in the county jail for not more than two years, or both 
a fine and confinement.

Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 149, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987.                    


	§ 180.002. DEFENSE OF CIVIL SUITS AGAINST PEACE OFFICERS, 
FIRE FIGHTERS, AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL PERSONNEL.  (a) In this 
section, "peace officer" has the meaning assigned by Article 2.12, 
Code of Criminal Procedure.
	(b)  A municipality or special purpose district shall 
provide a municipal or district employee who is a peace officer, 
fire fighter, or emergency medical services employee with legal 
counsel without cost to the employee to defend the employee against 
a suit for damages by a party other than a governmental entity if:
		(1)  legal counsel is requested by the employee; and                          
		(2)  the suit involves an official act of the employee 
within the scope of the employee's authority.
	(c)  To defend the employee against the suit, the 
municipality or special purpose district may provide counsel 
already employed by it or may employ private counsel.
	(d)  If the municipality or special purpose district fails to 
provide counsel as required by Subsection (b), the employee may 
recover from it the reasonable attorney's fees incurred in 
defending the suit if the trier of fact finds:
		(1)  that the fees were incurred in defending a suit 
covered by Subsection (b); and
		(2)  that the employee is without fault or that the 
employee acted with a reasonable good faith belief that the 
employee's actions were proper.

Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 149, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987.  Amended 
by Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 1, § 42(a), eff. Aug. 28, 1989.


	§ 180.003. MAXIMUM DUTY HOURS OF PEACE OFFICERS.  (a) In a 
county with a population of 239,000 to 242,000, a sheriff, deputy, 
constable, or other peace officer of the county or a municipality 
located in the county may not be required to be on duty more than 48 
hours a week unless the peace officer is called on by a superior 
officer to serve during an emergency as determined by the superior 
officer.
	(b)  Hours of duty over 48 hours a week, compiled by a peace 
officer under Subsection (a), may be treated as overtime and may be 
deducted from future required hours of duty if:
		(1)  the overtime is used within one year after it is 
compiled;  and        
		(2)  the peace officer obtains the permission of the 
superior officer.      

Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 149, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987.  Amended 
by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 597, § 93, eff. Sept. 1, 1991;  Acts 
2001, 77th Leg., ch. 669, § 72, eff. Sept. 1, 2001.


	§ 180.004. WORKING CONDITIONS FOR PREGNANT 
EMPLOYEES.  (a) In this section, "office" means a municipal or 
county office, department, division, program, commission, bureau, 
board, committee, or similar entity.
	(b)  A municipality or a county shall make a reasonable 
effort to accommodate an employee of the municipality or county who 
is determined by a physician to be partially physically restricted 
by a pregnancy.
	(c)  If the physician of a municipal or county employee 
certifies that the employee is unable to perform the duties of the 
employee's permanent work assignment as a result of the employee's 
pregnancy and if a temporary work assignment that the employee may 
perform is available in the same office, the office supervisor who 
is responsible for personnel decisions shall assign the employee to 
the temporary work assignment.

Added by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 533, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2001.           


	§ 180.005. APPOINTMENTS TO LOCAL GOVERNING BODIES.  (a) 
In this section, "local government" means a county, municipality, 
or other political subdivision of this state.
	(b)  An appointment to the governing body of a local 
government shall be made as required by the law applicable to that 
local government and may be made with the intent to ensure that the 
governing body is representative of the constituency served by the 
governing body.
	(c)  A local government that chooses to implement Subsection 
(b) shall adopt procedures for the implementation.

Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 301, § 8, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.