County Civil Service Independent Hearing Administrator

TMPA believe deputies should have the right to appeal discipline to an independent arbitrator, who is free from political influence. This would dramatically improve professionalism in county law enforcement.

Thank you to State representative Armando Martinez for filing House Bill 2071

**House Bill 2071 was filed on March 2nd by Representative Martinez.

**House Bill 2071 referred to House Committee on County Affairs on March 8th.

** House Bill 2071 has been set for hearing on April 14th at 10:30am or upon adjournment in room E2.016 before House Committee on County Affairs.

**HB 2071 is pending in the House Committee on County Affairs as of May 25th.

Contact Members of the House Committee on County Affairs TODAY, to express your support for H.B. 2071

Member Phone

Chairman Garnet Coleman (512) 463-0524

Vice Chair Marisa Marquez (512) 463-0638

Member Representative Larry Gonzales (512) 463-0670

Member Representative Lance Gooden (512) 463-0458

Member Representative Mike Hamilton (512) 463-0412

Member Representative Jim Jackson (512) 463-0468

Member Representative Ken Paxton (512) 463-0356

Member Representative Wayne Smith (512) 463-0733

Member Representative James White (512) 463-0490

Currently in Sheriff’s Department Civil Service all disciplinary appeals are heard by the civil service commission. Many deputies feel they do not receive fair hearing in front of a commission appointed by county leadership.

In municipal civil service the officer has the option to appeal discipline to an independent hearing administrator. This administrator provides an impartial review of the discipline and the officers receives a fair hearing.

We also believe this initiative would save Texas counties money by reducing the number of wrongful termination and bias lawsuits they face.