HB1985 - Relating to the age limit for a beginning position in a fire department under municipal civil service.

  89R836 MZM-D     By: Hickland H.B. No. 1985       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the age limit for a beginning position in a fire   department under municipal civil service.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Sections 143.023(a) and (b), Local Government   Code, are amended to read as follows:          (a)  A person may not take an entrance examination for a   beginning position in a [ the ] police or fire department unless the   person is at least 18 years of age.  [ A person may not take an   entrance examination for a beginning position in the fire   department unless the person is at least 18 years of age but not 36   years of age or older. ]          (b)  A person may not be certified as eligible for a   beginning position in a fire department if the person is 45  [ 36 ]   years of age or older.          SECTION 2.  Section 143.083(a), Local Government Code, is   amended to read as follows:          (a)  If a municipality is unable to recruit qualified fire   fighters because of the maximum age limit prescribed by Section   143.023 and the municipality's governing body finds that this   inability creates an emergency, the commission shall recommend to   the governing body additional rules governing the temporary   employment of persons who are 45 [ 36 ] years of age or older.          SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives   a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as   provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this   Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this   Act takes effect September 1, 2025.