The bill, H.B. No. 1677, amends the Government Code to establish specific requirements for the investigation of municipal fire fighters in municipalities with populations of 10,000 or more. It introduces a new section, 614.024, which defines key terms such as "fire fighter," "investigation," and "punitive action." The bill 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. Additionally, it clarifies that this new section supersedes any conflicting provisions in existing agreements and allows for additional investigation requirements to be imposed by such agreements, as long as they do not conflict with the new law.

The bill also amends existing sections of the Government Code, specifically Section 614.021(b) and Section 614.023(a), to clarify the applicability of the law to fire fighters and the process for handling complaints against them. Notably, it specifies that a signed complaint must be provided to the fire fighter within a reasonable time after it is filed, and outlines the procedures that municipalities must follow in conducting investigations. The provisions of this bill will take effect on September 1, 2025, and will apply only to investigations initiated on or after that date.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Government Code 614.021, Government Code 614.023 (Government Code 614)