TWO PLATOON FIRE SYSTEM AND HOURS OF LABOR IN CERTAIN MUNICIPALITIES

(a) A municipality that maintains an organized, paid fire department shall establish and maintain a two platoon fire system if the municipality: (1) has a population of 100,001 to 119,999 and is in a county containing more than 900 square miles; or (2) has a population of 265,000 or more and is in a county containing more than 1,500 square miles. (b) An employee of a fire department in a municipality covered by Subsection (a) may not be required to be on duty more than 10 consecutive hours during the daytime or more than 14 consecutive hours during the nighttime. The employee may not be required to be on duty more than 14 hours in a period of 24 consecutive hours, except as provided by Subsection (c). (c) The head or chief officer of a fire department or company in a municipality covered by Subsection (a) shall arrange the working hours of the employees of the department or company so that the employees work, as nearly as practicable, an equal number of hours each month. The working hours of the two platoons may be arranged so that each works 24 hours on duty and has 24 hours off duty. The head or chief officer of the department, or an aide or assistant to the head or chief officer, may require an employee to continue on duty during an emergency for a longer period than specified by Subsection (b). (d) A person commits an offense if the person violates this section or causes this section to be violated. An offense under this subsection is a misdemeanor and is punishable by a fine of not less than $10 or more than $100. Each employee required or permitted to work in violation of this section and each day the section is violated constitute a separate offense.