PAID QUARANTINE LEAVE FOR FIRE FIGHTERS, PEACE OFFICERS, DETENTION OFFICERS, AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIANS.
Tex. LOC. GOV'T Code § 180.009.
in effect(a) In this section:
(1) "Detention officer" means an individual appointed or employed by a political subdivision as a county jailer or other individual responsible for the care and custody of individuals incarcerated in a county or municipal jail.
(2) "Emergency medical technician" means an individual who is:
(A) certified as an emergency medical technician under Chapter 773 , Health and Safety Code; and
(B) employed by a political subdivision.
(3) "Fire fighter" means a paid employee of a municipal fire department or emergency services district who:
(A) holds a position that requires substantial knowledge of fire fighting;
(B) has met the requirements for certification by the Texas Commission on Fire Protection under Chapter 419 , Government Code; and
(C) performs a function listed in Section 143.003 (4)(A).
(4) "Health authority" has the meaning assigned by Section 121.021 , Health and Safety Code.
(5) "Peace officer" means an individual described by Article 2A.001 , Code of Criminal Procedure, who is elected for, employed by, or appointed by a political subdivision.
(b) The governing body of a political subdivision shall develop and implement a paid quarantine leave policy for fire fighters, peace officers, detention officers, and emergency medical technicians who are employed by, appointed by, or elected for the political subdivision and ordered to quarantine or isolate due to a possible or known exposure to a communicable disease while on duty.
(c) A paid quarantine leave policy must:
(1) provide that a fire fighter, peace officer, detention officer, or emergency medical technician on paid quarantine leave receive:
(A) all employment benefits and compensation, including leave accrual, pension benefits, and health benefit plan benefits for the duration of the leave; and
(B) reimbursement for reasonable costs related to the quarantine, including lodging, medical, and transportation; and
(2) require that the leave be ordered by the person's supervisor or the political subdivision's health authority.
(d) A political subdivision may not reduce a fire fighter's, peace officer's, detention officer's, or emergency medical technician's sick leave balance, vacation leave balance, holiday leave balance, or other paid leave balance in connection with paid quarantine leave taken in accordance with a policy adopted under this section.
Added by Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 685 (H.B. 2073 ), Sec. 2, eff. June 15, 2021.
Redesignated from Local Government Code, Section 180.008 by Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 768 (H.B. 4595 ), Sec. 24.001(29), eff. September 1, 2023.