Texas Local Government Code 142.159 – Ratification and Enforceability of Agreement
(a) An agreement made under this subchapter between a public employer and an association is binding on the public employer, the association, and the emergency medical services personnel covered by the agreement if:
(1) the municipality‘s governing body ratifies the agreement by a majority vote; and
(2) the association recognized under § 142.155 ratifies the agreement by a majority vote of its members voting in an election by secret ballot at which only members of the association who are eligible to sign a petition under § 142.155 may vote.
(b) An agreement ratified as described by Subsection (a) may establish a procedure by which the parties agree to resolve disputes related to a right, duty, or obligation provided by the agreement, including binding arbitration on interpretation of the agreement.
Terms Used In Texas Local Government Code 142.159
- Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
- Municipality: means a general-law municipality, home-rule municipality, or special-law municipality. See Texas Local Government Code 1.005
- Obligation: An order placed, contract awarded, service received, or similar transaction during a given period that will require payments during the same or a future period.
- Writ: A formal written command, issued from the court, requiring the performance of a specific act.
(c) The state district court of the judicial district in which the municipality is located has jurisdiction to hear and resolve a dispute under the ratified agreement on the application of a party to the agreement aggrieved by an act or omission of the other party. The court may issue proper restraining orders, temporary and permanent injunctions, or any other writ, order, or process, including a contempt order, that is appropriate to enforce the agreement.