By: Lucio S.B. No. 1961               A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the relationship between public employers and fire and   police employees.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 174.002(a), Local Government Code, is   amended to read as follows:          (a)  The policy of this state is that a political subdivision   shall provide its fire fighters and police officers with   compensation and other conditions of employment that are   substantially equal to [the same as] compensation and other   conditions of employment that prevail [prevailing] in comparable   fire and police departments [private sector employment].          SECTION 2.  Section 174.021, Local Government Code, is   amended to read as follows:          Sec. 174.021.  COMPENSATION [PREVAILING WAGE] AND WORKING   CONDITIONS REQUIRED.  A political subdivision that employs fire   fighters, police officers, or both, shall provide those employees   with compensation and other conditions of employment that are[:                [(1)]  substantially equal to compensation and other   conditions of employment that prevail in comparable fire or police   departments, as applicable [employment in the private sector; and                [(2)     based on prevailing private sector compensation   and conditions of employment in the labor market area in other jobs   that require the same or similar skills, ability, and training and   may be performed under the same or similar conditions].          SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.