House Bill No. 1677 amends the Government Code to establish new requirements for the investigation of municipal fire fighters in municipalities with populations of 10,000 or more. The bill introduces Section 614.024, which defines key terms such as "fire fighter," "investigation," and "punitive action." It stipulates that municipalities must conduct investigations into alleged misconduct before taking any punitive action against fire fighters, regardless of whether the municipality is covered by a collective bargaining agreement. This section also supersedes any conflicting provisions in such agreements and allows for additional investigation requirements as long as they do not conflict with existing laws.

Additionally, the bill modifies existing language in Sections 614.021 and 614.023 to clarify the applicability of these provisions. Specifically, it states that the subchapter does not apply to fire fighters under certain collective bargaining agreements if those agreements include investigation provisions. The bill ensures that fire fighters are informed of complaints against them in a timely manner and outlines the necessary procedures for investigations. The changes will take effect on September 1, 2025, and will apply to investigations initiated on or after that date.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Government Code 614.021, Government Code 614.023 (Government Code 614)
House Committee Report: Government Code 614.021, Government Code 614.023 (Government Code 614)
Engrossed: Government Code 614.021, Government Code 614.023 (Government Code 614)