PETITION TO INCREASE SALARIES.

(a) The qualified voters of a municipality with a population of more than 10,000, may petition the governing body of the municipality in accordance with this section to increase the minimum salary of each member of the fire or police department.

(b) A petition under this section must:

(1) state the amount of the proposed minimum salary for each rank, pay grade, or classification;

(2) state the effective date of the proposed salary increase;

(3) designate five qualified voters to act as a committee of petitioners authorized to negotiate with the governing body of the municipality under Subsection (g); and

(4) be signed by a number of qualified voters equal to at least 25 percent of the voters who voted in the most recent municipal election.

(c) When a petition is filed under this section, the governing body shall:

(1) adopt the proposed minimum salary stated in the petition;

(2) offer an alternative minimum salary proposal under Subsection (g); or

(3) call an election on the proposed minimum salary as provided by this section.

(d) If the governing body chooses to call an election, the only issue that may be submitted is whether the proposed minimum salary should be adopted. The election shall be held on the first authorized uniform election date under Chapter 41, Election Code, that occurs after the 65th day after the date the petition was filed.

(e) The ballot for the election shall be printed to provide for voting for or against the proposition: "Adoption of the proposed minimum salaries of _____________ applicable to _____________." The proposed salary for each rank, pay grade, or classification, the affected department, and effective date of the proposed minimum salary as stated in the petition must be inserted in the blank spaces.

(f) If a majority of the votes cast at the election favor the adoption of the proposed minimum salary, the governing body of the municipality shall cause the minimum salary to take effect not later than the date specified in the petition as the effective date.

(g) If the governing body chooses to offer an alternative minimum salary proposal, the governing body shall confer with the committee of petitioners designated in the petition and offer the alternative salary proposal. If the committee accepts the alternative salary proposal, the governing body is not required to call an election.

(h) When an election has been held or an alternative salary proposal has been accepted under this section, a petition for another election under this section may not be filed until one year has elapsed after the date the election was held or the alternative salary proposal was accepted.