DEFINITIONS.

In this chapter:

(1) "Association" means any type of organization, including an agency or employee representation committee or plan, in which fire fighters, police officers, or both, participate and that exists, in whole or in part, to deal with one or more public or private employers concerning grievances, labor disputes, or conditions of employment affecting fire fighters, police officers, or both.

(2) "Fire fighter" means a permanent, paid employee of the fire department of a political subdivision. The term does not include:

(A) the chief of the department; or

(B) a volunteer fire fighter.

(3) "Police officer" means a paid employee who is sworn, certified or licensed by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement, and full-time, and who regularly serves in a professional law enforcement capacity in the police department of a political subdivision, the office of a district attorney as an investigator, or the office of the county fire marshal. The term does not include the chief of the department.

(4) "Political subdivision" includes a municipality and a county.

(5) "Public employer" means the official or group of officials of a political subdivision whose duty is to establish the compensation, hours, and other conditions of employment of fire fighters, police officers, or both, and may include the mayor, city manager, town manager, town administrator, municipal governing body, director of personnel, personnel board, commissioners, commissioners court, or another official or combination of those persons.