Title LG, Local Government Code

Sec. 161.301. PETITION FOR DISSOLUTION OF COMMISSION. If, after an ethics commission created pursuant to Section 161.052 has been in effect for at least one year, 10 percent of the qualified voters of the county petition the commissioners court to dissolve the commission, the com…

Sec. 161.302. DISSOLUTION ELECTION. (a) An election under this subchapter must be held in the manner provided for an election to create a county ethics commission. (b) The ballot for the election shall be printed to provide for voting for or against the proposition: "Dissolution …

Sec. 161.303. DISSOLUTION OF COMMISSION. If the proposition is approved by a majority of the qualified voters voting at the election, the commissioners court shall declare the result and by order dissolve the ethics commission. A copy of the order dissolving the commission shall …

Sec. 161.304. SAVING PROVISIONS. The dissolution of a county ethics commission under this subchapter does not affect: (1) the prior operation of the ethics code adopted by the commission or any prior action taken under it; or (2) any penalty, forfeiture, or punishment incurred fo…

Sec. 170.001. REGULATION OF CERTAIN USE OF PRIVATELY OWNED VEHICLES. (a) The commissioners court of a county may adopt rules prohibiting or regulating the use of a privately owned motor vehicle for the performance of county business or law enforcement duties by a sheriff or const…

Sec. 170.002. CODE OF ETHICS FOR CERTAIN COMMISSIONERS COURTS. (a) This section applies to a county that has a population of less than 50,000 that is adjacent to a county with a population of more than 3.3 million. (b) The commissioners court of a county subject to this section m…

Sec. 171.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: (1) "Local public official" means a member of the governing body or another officer, whether elected, appointed, paid, or unpaid, of any district (including a school district), county, municipality, precinct, central appraisal district,…

Sec. 171.002. SUBSTANTIAL INTEREST IN BUSINESS ENTITY. (a) For purposes of this chapter, a person has a substantial interest in a business entity if: (1) the person owns 10 percent or more of the voting stock or shares of the business entity or owns either 10 percent or more or $…

Sec. 171.0025. APPLICATION OF CHAPTER TO MEMBER OF HIGHER EDUCATION AUTHORITY. This chapter does not apply to a board member of a higher education authority created under Chapter 53, Education Code, unless a vote, act, or other participation by the board member in the affairs of …

Sec. 171.003. PROHIBITED ACTS; PENALTY. (a) A local public official commits an offense if the official knowingly: (1) violates Section 171.004; (2) acts as surety for a business entity that has work, business, or a contract with the governmental entity; or (3) acts as surety on a…

Sec. 171.004. AFFIDAVIT AND ABSTENTION FROM VOTING REQUIRED. (a) If a local public official has a substantial interest in a business entity or in real property, the official shall file, before a vote or decision on any matter involving the business entity or the real property, an…

Sec. 171.005. VOTING ON BUDGET. (a) The governing body of a governmental entity shall take a separate vote on any budget item specifically dedicated to a contract with a business entity in which a member of the governing body has a substantial interest. (b) Except as provided by …

Sec. 171.006. EFFECT OF VIOLATION OF CHAPTER. The finding by a court of a violation under this chapter does not render an action of the governing body voidable unless the measure that was the subject of an action involving a conflict of interest would not have passed the governin…

Sec. 171.007. COMMON LAW PREEMPTED; CUMULATIVE OF MUNICIPAL PROVISIONS. (a) This chapter preempts the common law of conflict of interests as applied to local public officials. (b) This chapter is cumulative of municipal charter provisions and municipal ordinances defining and pro…

Sec. 171.009. SERVICE ON BOARD OF CORPORATION FOR NO COMPENSATION. It shall be lawful for a local public official to serve as a member of the board of directors of private, nonprofit corporations when such officials receive no compensation or other remuneration from the nonprofit…

Sec. 171.010. PRACTICE OF LAW. (a) For purposes of this chapter, a county judge or county commissioner engaged in the private practice of law has a substantial interest in a business entity if the official has entered a court appearance or signed court pleadings in a matter relat…

Sec. 172.001. SHORT TITLE. This chapter may be cited as the Texas Political Subdivision Employees Uniform Group Benefits Act. Added by Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 1067, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989.

Sec. 172.002. PURPOSE. The purpose of this chapter is to: (1) provide uniformity in benefits including accident, health, dental, and long-term disability coverage to employees of political subdivisions; (2) enable the political subdivisions to attract and retain competent and abl…

Sec. 172.003. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: (1) "Affiliated service contractor" means an organization qualified for exemption under Section 501(c), Internal Revenue Code (26 U.S.C. Section 501(c)), as amended, that provides governmental or quasi-governmental services on behalf of…

Sec. 172.004. BENEFITS CONTRACT. (a) A political subdivision or a group of political subdivisions pursuant to The Interlocal Cooperation Act (Chapter 791, Government Code) directly or through a risk pool may provide health and accident coverage for political subdivision officials…

Sec. 172.005. RISK POOL. (a) A political subdivision may establish a risk pool or may enter into an interlocal agreement under The Interlocal Cooperation Act (Chapter 791, Government Code) with other political subdivisions to establish a risk pool to provide health and accident c…

Sec. 172.006. SUPERVISION AND ADMINISTRATION OF POOL. (a) A political subdivision or a group of political subdivisions that create a risk pool shall select trustees to supervise the operation of the pool. (b) A pool may be administered by a staff employed by the pool, an entity c…

Sec. 172.007. TRUSTEE TRAINING. (a) Trustees who act as fiduciaries for a risk pool must have at least 16 hours of combined professional instruction with four hours of instruction in each of the following areas: (1) law governing the establishment and operation of risk pools by p…

Sec. 172.008. EXCESS LOSS COVERAGE AND REINSURANCE. (a) A risk pool may purchase excess loss coverage or reinsurance to insure a pool against financial losses that the pool determines might place the solvency of the pool in financial jeopardy. (b) If a risk pool does not purchase…

Sec. 172.009. INVESTMENTS. (a) The trustees of a risk pool shall invest the pool's money in accordance with Subchapter A, Chapter 2256, Government Code to the extent that law can be made applicable. (b) In addition to investments authorized under Subchapter A, Chapter 2256, Gover…

Sec. 172.010. AUDITS. (a) The trustees of the pool shall have the fiscal accounts and records of the risk pool audited annually by an independent auditor. (b) The person who performs the audit must be a certified public accountant or public accountant licensed by the Texas State …

Sec. 172.011. INSOLVENCY. (a) The trustees of a risk pool shall declare the pool insolvent if the trustees determine that the pool is unable to pay valid claims within 60 days after the date the claims are verified. (b) If a pool is declared insolvent by the trustees, the pool sh…

Sec. 172.012. LIMITATION OF RISK POOLS. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b), a county may not provide health and accident coverage through a risk pool under this chapter, except: (1) as authorized by Subchapter A, Chapter 157; or (2) through an interlocal contract entered un…

Sec. 172.013. PAYMENT OF CONTRIBUTIONS AND PREMIUMS. (a) A political subdivision may pay all or part of the contributions for coverage under this chapter from local funds, including federal grant or contract pass-through funds, that are not dedicated by law to some other purpose.…

Sec. 172.014. APPLICATION OF CERTAIN LAWS. A risk pool created under this chapter is not insurance or an insurer under the Insurance Code and other laws of this state, and the State Board of Insurance does not have jurisdiction over a pool created under this chapter. Added by Act…

Sec. 172.016. STATUS OF AFFILIATED SERVICE CONTRACTORS. Inclusion of the employees of affiliated service contractors in the uniform group benefits program authorized by this chapter does not, for any purpose: (1) make an affiliated service contractor a political subdivision or a …

Sec. 173.001. EMPLOYEES SUBJECT TO CHAPTER. (a) This chapter applies to a municipal or county employee who is a member of a reserve component of the armed forces of the United States, including any appropriate part of the state military forces, and who by virtue of that membershi…

Sec. 173.002. SALARY CONTINUATION. (a) Notwithstanding any other law, if a person to whom this chapter applies exhausts all military leave to which the person is entitled under state law, the municipality or county may continue the person's municipal or county salary payments und…

Sec. 173.003. MANNER OF PAYMENT. Salary payments under this chapter may be paid in the manner directed by the person, subject to the approval of the governing body of a municipality or the commissioners court of a county, as applicable, except as provided by other law. Added by A…

Sec. 173.004. RULES. The governing body of a municipality and the commissioners court of a county may adopt rules to implement this chapter. Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 671, Sec. 1, eff. June 20, 2003.

Sec. 173.005. OTHER BENEFITS UNAFFECTED. This chapter authorizes the continuation of municipal or county salary payments only as provided by Sections 173.001-173.004. Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 671, Sec. 1, eff. June 20, 2003.

Sec. 174.001. SHORT TITLE. This chapter may be cited as The Fire and Police Employee Relations Act. Added by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 269, Sec. 4, eff. Sept. 1, 1993.

Sec. 174.002. POLICY. (a) The policy of this state is that a political subdivision shall provide its fire fighters and police officers with compensation and other conditions of employment that are substantially the same as compensation and conditions of employment prevailing in c…

Sec. 174.003. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: (1) "Association" means any type of organization, including an agency or employee representation committee or plan, in which fire fighters, police officers, or both, participate and that exists, in whole or in part, to deal with one or …

Sec. 174.004. LIBERAL CONSTRUCTION. This chapter shall be liberally construed. Added by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 269, Sec. 4, eff. Sept. 1, 1993.

Sec. 174.005. PREEMPTION OF OTHER LAW. Except as provided by this chapter, this chapter preempts all contrary local ordinances, executive orders, legislation, or rules adopted by the state or by a political subdivision or agent of the state, including a personnel board, civil ser…

Sec. 174.006. EFFECT ON CIVIL SERVICE PROVISIONS. (a) A state or local civil service provision prevails over a collective bargaining contract under this chapter unless the collective bargaining contract specifically provides otherwise. (b) A civil service provision may not be rep…

Sec. 174.007. EFFECT ON EXISTING BENEFITS. This chapter may not be construed as repealing any existing benefit provided by statute or ordinance concerning fire fighters' or police officers' compensation, pensions, retirement plans, hours of work, conditions of employment, or othe…

Sec. 174.008. WAIVER OF IMMUNITY. This chapter is binding and enforceable against the employing public employer, and sovereign or governmental immunity from suit and liability is waived only to the extent necessary to enforce this chapter against that employer. Added by Acts 2007…

Sec. 174.021. PREVAILING WAGE AND WORKING CONDITIONS REQUIRED. A political subdivision that employs fire fighters, police officers, or both, shall provide those employees with compensation and other conditions of employment that are: (1) substantially equal to compensation and ot…

Sec. 174.022. CERTAIN PUBLIC EMPLOYERS CONSIDERED TO BE IN COMPLIANCE. (a) A public employer that has reached an agreement with an association on compensation or other conditions of employment as provided by this chapter is considered to be in compliance with the requirements of …