(a) To continue the grievance procedure, the fire fighter or police officer must complete a step II grievance form and file it with the department head or the departmental grievance counselor within 15 calendar days after the date the fire fighter or police officer receives the supervisor’s response under § 143.128.
(b) The departmental grievance counselor shall arrange a meeting of the fire fighter or police officer, that person‘s immediate supervisor or other appropriate supervisor or both, and the department head or the department head’s representative who must have a rank of at least assistant chief or the equivalent. The meeting shall be held within 15 calendar days after the date the step II grievance form is filed under Subsection (a).

(c) Regardless of the outcome of the meeting, the department head or the department head’s representative shall provide a written response to the fire fighter or police officer within 15 calendar days after the date the meeting occurs. The response shall either be personally delivered to the fire fighter or police officer or be mailed by certified mail, return receipt requested, to the last home address provided by that person.
(d) If the proposed solution is not acceptable, the fire fighter or police officer may either submit a written request stating the person’s decision to appeal to an independent third party hearing examiner pursuant to the provisions of § 143.057 or file a step III grievance form with the director in accordance with § 143.130. If the fire fighter or police officer fails to timely file a step III grievance form or a written request to appeal to a hearing examiner, the solution is considered accepted. Notwithstanding § 143.057(i), if the fire fighter or police officer prevails and the hearing examiner upholds the grievance in its entirety, the department shall bear the cost of the appeal to the hearing examiner. If the fire fighter or police officer fails to prevail and the hearing examiner denies the grievance in its entirety, the fire fighter or police officer shall bear the cost of the appeal to the hearing examiner. If neither party entirely prevails and the hearing examiner upholds part of the grievance and denies part of it, the hearing examiner’s fees and expenses shall be shared equally by the fire fighter or police officer and the department.
(e) If the department head or the department head’s representative does not provide the response required by Subsection (c) before the 16th day after the date the meeting occurs, the department head shall sustain the fire fighter’s or police officer’s grievance.