Wilson v. Andrews
Wilson v. Andrews
Opinion of the Court
delivered the opinion of the Court,
This case presents issues similar to those presented in Proctor v. Andrews.
In this case, which was decided by the court of appeals before we issued Proctor, the City of Lubbock asks whether its Firemen’s and Policemen’s Civil Service Ordinance 862 or subsection 143.057(d) governs its civil services. The answer to this question determines whether Lubbock’s civil service employees can use the arbitration procedures subsection 143.057(d) provides. Because we conclude that the Civil Service Act and the subsequent amendments control, we agree with the court of appeals’ holding that subsection 143.057(d) governs Lubbock’s civil service disciplinary matters.
Lubbock also asserts that subsection 143.057(d) unconstitutionally delegates legislative authority to a private entity because it provides no guidelines to the entities that determine whether arbitrators are “qualified” and “neutral.” Additionally, Lubbock asserted in the court of appeals that subsection 143.057(d) unconstitutionally infringes upon the home rule powers guaranteed under article XI, section 5. Although the court of appeals agreed with Lubbock,
Lubbock Police Chief Ken Walker suspended officer Eric Wilson for ten days without pay for allegedly using excessive force on a prisoner. Chapter 143 of the Local Government Code allows a police officer to appeal a suspension to (1) the local service commission or (2) an independent third-party hearing examiner selected either by agreement or by alternate strikes from a list of seven “qualified neutral arbitrators” submitted by the American Arbitration Association (AAA) or the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS).
Chief Walker, Mary Andrews, Lubbock’s Civil Service Director and Human Resources Managing Director, and the City of Lubbock, (collectively “Lubbock”), filed this suit, seeking a declaration that Lubbock was under no obligation to comply with subsection 143.057(d). Unlike
•The Attorney General intervened to defend the statute’s constitutionality.
The Texas Constitution allows a home rule city such as Lubbock to be governed, generally, by ordinances adopted pursuant to its municipal charter.
It is undisputed that Lubbock’s citizens, in 1947, voted to adopt the Civil Service Act. It is also undisputed that at the time of the vote, article 1269m
By 1983, the Legislature had amended the Civil Service Act a number of times, including adding the Act’s arbitration provision.
In holding that subsection 143.057(d) applies to Lubbock’s civil services, the court of appeals stated that the vote to approve the 1947 Civil Service Act constituted a vote adopting Chapter 143 of the Texas Local Government Code because Chapter 143 merely codified former article 1269m, and was intended to be a continuation of the previously existing law. But resolving that issue does not address Lubbock’s contention that its voters adopted the Civil Service Act only as it existed in 1947, devoid of the hearing examiner provision, and that the subsequent amendment to the Act was therefore ineffective to alter the civil service procedures set out in Lubbock’s ordinance 862.
Although no case answers the precise question, several cases that have addressed the effect of amendments to the Civil Service Act assume that amendments to the Act govern in cities that have adopted it. For example, in Patton v. City of Grand Prairie,
In City of San Antonio v. Wallace,
The Fourth Court of Appeals explicitly recognized that after the city adopted the Civil Service Act for its firefighters, the “Act, with its amendments, became a part of the contract of employment between the firemen and the City of San Antonio.”
In City of Lubbock v. Knox,
As well, the statutory language of the Act supports our conclusion that post-adoption amendments to the Act govern in cities that have adopted it. In 1947, article 1269m, section 27(a) stated:
the provisions of this Act shall not apply to any city unless first determined at an election ... if at such election a majority of the people voting shall favor the adoption of the provisions of this Act, it shall thereafter become the duty of [the] governing body to put into effect the provisions of this Act.29
Further, section 28 of the Act stated that “[t]his Act shall supersede all other civil service pertaining to Firemen and Policemen in the cities covered hereby.”
We cannot give effect either to the Legislature’s command that the Act’s provisions supersede “all other civil service” or the legislative amendments to the Act if Lubbock, by city ordinance, may freeze in time a legislative enactment. Consequently, we conclude that once Lubbock’s citizens voted to be governed by the Civil Service Act, they are governed by the Act as it existed when the vote occurred, and as it is amended by the Legislature from time to time.
To give effect to the citizens’ vote, and meaning to the statutory language and the amendment, it is perhaps helpful to view the statute as providing a governing option. That is, under the statute, the citizens of a municipality may opt to have state law govern police and fire employees. If the citizens so opt, the state act, including subsequent amendments, controls.
But having at one time opted to let state law govern, those citizens also may opt out of state law and return the administration of its police and fire employees to local city ordinances. As its predecessor statute did, Chapter 143, section 143.004 allows a city’s voters to withdraw the city from the Civil Service Act.
As long as the Civil Service Act governs Lubbock, however, it must adhere to the Act’s post-adoption amendments. Accordingly, we hold that Chapter 143, including subsection 143.057(d), and not Ordinance 862, controls. Wilson is therefore entitled to have his disciplinary appeal decided before a private hearing examiner in accordance with subsection 143.057(d).
Lubbock also argues that subsection 143.057(d): (1) violates due process because it is unconstitutionally vague; and
In Proctor, Lubbock did not contend that it was deprived of due process or equal protection. Instead, it relied on article III, Section 1 of the Texas Constitution and claimed that there had been an unconstitutional delegation of legislative authority.
Under our standing jurisprudence, Lubbock and its city officials acting in their official capacities do have standing to assert these claims because they have alleged concrete injuries and have asked for a remedy that, if granted, would end the controversy. In Texas Association of Business v. Texas Air Control Board, we explained that the constitutional demands of standing are that there is (a) a real controversy between the parties, which (b) will be actually determined by the judicial declaration sought.
Lubbock first challenges subsection 143.057(d) on vagueness grounds. We have previously answered this challenge in Proctor.
Lubbock’s second due process or equal protection challenge is that the statutory arbitration scheme creates an inherent bias in favor of the disciplined employee because only the employee has the right to request a fee-producing hearing by a hearing examiner. Therefore, Lubbock reasons, this scheme motivates hearing officers to rule favorably for the employee to maintain an incentive for other disciplined employees to continue to choose to have their appeals heard by a hearing examiner rather than Lubbock’s Civil Service Commission. Lubbock also asserts that the bias the statute creates violates the equal protection guarantees of both the state and federal constitutions because it facially discriminates against municipalities by treating municipalities differently than police officers and firefighters. Furthermore, citing Commonwealth Coatings Corp. v.
Because Lubbock mounts a facial challenge to the statute, it must demonstrate that the statute always operates unconstitutionally.
Lubbock’s attenuated reasoning is far from the indications of bias present in both United States Supreme Court cases that it cites. In Turney, the official trying the case had a “direct, personal, substantial, pecuniary interest in reaching a conclusion against him in his case” because the official could recover his fees or costs for the trial only if he convicted the defendant.
Finally we note that in Proctor Lubbock did not contend, and we therefore did not decide, whether subsection 143.057(d) “im-permissibly delegated authority to hear appeals to a private decisionmaker.”
Lubbock argued in the court of appeals that subsection 143.057(d) is unconstitutional under article III, section 1 of the Texas Constitution “because it confers legislative authority on a private entity.... Specifically, [it] fails to provide any guidelines to the AAA or FMCS in determining whether examiners are ‘qualified’ and ‘neutral’ under the statute and leaves such determination to such private entities on an ad hoc basis.”
For the foregoing reasons, we hold that Lubbock’s civil service employees are governed by Chapter 143, including subsection 143.057(d), of the Texas Local Government Code. While Lubbock, and its officials acting'in their official capacity, have standing to argue that the statute violates its due process and equal protection rights, its constitutional challenges to the statute fail. And because subsection 143.057(d) is not an unconstitutional delegation under either article II, section 1 or article XI, section 5 of the Texas Constitution, we reverse the court of appeals’ judgment and reinstate the trial court’s judgment for Wilson.
. 972 S.W.2d 729 (Tex. 1998).
. Tex. Loc. Gov't Code §§ 143.001-.134.
. See Proctor, 972 S.W.2d at 734, 738.
. See Tex. Loc. Gov’t Code § 143.057(d).
. During the pendency of the appeal before this Court, John Comyn succeeded Dan Morales as Texas Attorney General.
. See Tex Const, art. XI, § 5.
. Id.
. See Tex. Loc. Gov’t Code § 143.002.
. See Act of June 2, 1947, 50th Leg., R.S., ch. 325, § 1, 1947 Tex. Gen. Laws 550, repealed by Act of April 20, 1987, 70th Leg., R.S., ch. 149, § 49(1), 1987 Tex. Gen. Laws 1306.
. Id. § 16.
. See Lubbock, Tex., Ordinance 862 (Feb. 26, 1948).
. See Act of May 27, 1983, 68th Leg., R.S., ch. 420, 1983 Tex. Gen. Laws 2265-66, repealed by Act of April 29, 1987, 70th Leg., R.S., ch. 149, § 49(1), 1987 Tex. Gen. Laws 1306.
. See Act of Apr. 29, 1987, 70th Leg., R.S., ch. 149, § 49(1), 1987 Tex. Gen. Laws 707, 886.
. 686 S.W.2d 108, 110 (Tex. 1985).
. 582 S.W.2d 778 (Tex. 1979).
. See Patton, 686 S.W.2d at 110.
. 161 Tex. 41, 338 S.W.2d 153 (1960).
. Id. at 155 (emphasis added).
. Id. at 156 (citing Tex. Const, art. XI, § 5).
. Ward v. City of San Antonio, 560 S.W.2d 163, 165 (Tex.Civ.App.—San Antonio 1977, writ ref’d n.r.e.) (emphasis added).
. Firemen's and Policemen’s Civil Serv. Comm'n v. Rodriguez, 326 S.W.2d 624, 626 (Tex.Civ.App.—San Antonio 1959, no writ).
. 600 S.W.2d 891 (Tex.Civ.App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1980, writ ref’d n.r.e.).
. Id. at 893.
. 736 S.W.2d 888, 893 (Tex.App.—Amarillo 1987, writ denied).
. Id.
. See Act of June 2, 1947, 50th Leg., R.S., ch. 325, § 27, 1947 Tex. Gen. Laws 550, repealed by Act of April 20, 1987, 70th Leg., R.S., ch. 149, § 49(1), 1987 Tex. Gen. Laws 1306.
. Id. § 28.
. See Tex Loc. Gov’t Code § 143.004.
. Proctor, 972 S.W.2d at 734.
. See Monell v. New York City Dep’t of Soc. Servs., 436 U.S. 658, 690 n. 55, 98 S.Ct. 2018, 56 L.Ed.2d 611 (1978).
. See 972 S.W.2d at 734.
. 852 S.W.2d 440, 446 (Tex. 1993).
. See 972 S.W.2d at 737.
. See id.
. 393 U.S. 145, 89 S.Ct. 337, 21 L.Ed.2d 301 (1968).
. 273 U.S. 510, 523, 47 S.Ct. 437, 71 L.Ed. 749 (1927).
. See Texas Workers’ Compensation Comm’n v. Garcia, 893 S.W.2d 504, 518 (Tex. 1995) (citing United States v. Salerno, 481 U.S. 739, 745, 107 S.Ct. 2095, 95 L.Ed.2d 697 (1987)).
. Turney, 273 U.S. at 520, 523, 47 S.Ct. 437.
. See Commonwealth Coatings Corp., 393 U.S. at 146, 89 S.Ct. 337.
. See Proctor, 972 S.W.2d at 735.
. See Wilson, 959 S.W.2d at 690 (emphasis added).
. See Texas Boll Weevil Eradication Found., Inc. v. Lewellen, 952 S.W.2d 454, 472 (Tex. 1997).
. See Proctor, 972 S.W.2d at 738.
. See Wilson, 959 S.W.2d at 690.
. Id.
. See Andrews, 959 S.W.2d at 690.
. See Proctor, 972 S.W.2d at 733.
Concurring Opinion
concurring.
I concur in the Court’s opinion except for its conclusion that respondents do not argue that article XI, section 5 of the Texas Constitution precludes the Legislature from delegating the authority to hear civil' service appeals to a private entity as it has done in section 143.057(d) of the Texas Local Government Code. This argument is different from another argument respondents make, and which we addressed in Proctor v. Andrews, that article III, section 1 of the Texas Constitution precludes the Legislature from delegating the authority to a private entity to determine who can be a neutral arbitrator in
The Court concludes that respondents did not raise their nondelegation argument regarding the authority to decide appeals in the court of appeals, but that is simply incorrect. Respondents argue that to delegate the authority to decide appeals is to delegate an important element of a city’s authority to discipline, suspend, or discharge police officers. Respondents stated in their brief:
It has long been settled by numerous cases that the city’s governmental functions, such as the exercise of its police power, must remain under the control of the city and such functions cannot be transferred or ceded to another entity (either voluntarily or involuntarily) absent specific constitutional provision.
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The City submits that § 143.057 ... is an invalid and unconstitutional interference with the City’s constitutional rights, powers and duties under the home-rule provisions of the Texas Constitution which prohibit the delegation to a third power of the City’s governmental powers, which include its duty and authority to discipline, suspend or discharge its police officers.
The court of appeals discussed this argument at length and concluded that the statutory delegation was improper.
The court of appeals assumed the premise of respondents’ argument, that requiring a city to arbitrate civil service appeals at a police officer’s election was a delegation of the city’s supervisory authority over the police and then applied the factors set out in Texas Boll Weevil Eradication Foundation, Inc. v. Lewellen
The Court should address respondents’ argument, as several amici curiae here urge. The argument was before the court of appeals and has been urged in this Court. I agree with the Court, however, that we should not address the argument that could be made, that section 143.057’s delegation of authority to decide appeals violates article III, section 1 of the Texas Constitution, on the briefs we have before us.
With this caveat, I concur in the rest of the Court’s opinion.
. 972 S.W.2d 729, 734-738 (Tex. 1998).
. Id.
. Id. at 735.
. 952 S.W.2d 454, 473 (Tex. 1997)
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Eric WILSON, and John Cornyn, Attorney General OF Texas, Petitioners, v. Mary ANDREWS, in Her Official Capacity as Civil Service Director of the City of Lubbock, Texas, and as Managing Director of Human Resources for the City of Lubbock, Texas, Et Al., Respondents
- Cited By
- 76 cases
- Status
- Published