Sec. 158.0351. PROCEDURES AFTER FELONY INDICTMENT OR MISDEMEANOR COMPLAINT. (a) This section applies only to a county with a population of 2.8 million or more.

(b) If an employee is indicted for a felony or officially charged with the commission of a Class A or B misdemeanor, the sheriff may temporarily suspend the person with or without pay for a period not to exceed 30 days after the date of final disposition of the specified felony indictment or misdemeanor complaint.

(c) The sheriff shall notify the suspended employee in writing that the person is being temporarily suspended for a specific period with or without pay and that the temporary suspension is not intended to reflect an opinion on the merits of the indictment or complaint.

(d) An employee indicted for a felony or officially charged with the commission of a Class A or B misdemeanor who has also been charged by the sheriff with a civil service rule violation directly related to the indictment or complaint may delay the civil service hearing for not more than 30 days after the date of the final disposition of the indictment or complaint.

(e) If the sheriff temporarily suspends an employee under this section and the employee is not found guilty as charged in the indictment or complaint in a court of competent jurisdiction, the employee may appeal to the commission for recovery of back pay. The commission may:

(1) award all or part of the back pay, even if the employee is a deputy sheriff whose appointment as a deputy was revoked under Section 85.003(c); or

(2) modify or uphold the decision by the sheriff.

(f) Acquittal or dismissal of an indictment or a complaint does not mean that an employee has not violated a civil service rule and does not negate the charges that may have been or may be brought against the employee by the sheriff.

(g) Conviction of a felony is cause for dismissal, and conviction of a Class A or B misdemeanor may be cause for disciplinary action or dismissal.

Added by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 893, Sec. 2, eff. Sept. 1, 1993.