(a) A public employer in a municipality that chooses to meet and confer under this subchapter shall recognize an association that is recognized under § 142.103 or 142.104 as the sole and exclusive bargaining agent for the covered firefighters described in the petition for recognition, excluding the head of the fire department and excluding the employees exempt under Subsection (b), in accordance with this subchapter and the petition.
(b) For the purposes of Subsection (a), exempt employees are the employees appointed by the head of the fire department of the municipality under § 143.014 or that are exempt by the mutual agreement of the recognized firefighters association and the public employer.

(c) The public employer shall recognize the firefighters association until recognition of the association is withdrawn, in accordance with § 142.106, by a majority of the firefighters eligible to sign a petition for recognition.