SOVEREIGN OR GOVERNMENTAL IMMUNITY WAIVED FOR CERTAIN CLAIMS.

(a) This section applies only to a firefighter or police officer covered by:

(1) Chapter 141, 142, or 143 or this chapter;

(2) a municipal charter provision conferring civil service benefits of a municipality that has not adopted Chapter 143; or

(3) a municipal ordinance enacted under Chapter 142 or 143.

(b) A firefighter or police officer described by Subsection (a) who alleges the employing municipality's denial of monetary benefits associated with the recovery of back pay authorized under a provision listed in Subsection (a) or a firefighter described by Subsection (a) who alleges the denial of monetary civil penalties associated with recovery of back pay owed under Section 143.134(h) may seek judicial review of such denial only as provided in Subsections (e) and (f), provided that if there is no applicable grievance, administrative or contractual appeal procedure available under Subsection (e), the firefighter or police officer may file suit against the employing municipality directly in district court under the preponderance of the evidence standard of review.

(c) Sovereign and governmental immunity of the employing municipality from suit and liability is waived only to the extent of liability for the monetary benefits or monetary civil penalties described by Subsection (b). This section does not waive sovereign or governmental immunity from suit or liability for any other claim, including a claim involving negligence, an intentional tort, or a contract unless otherwise provided by the statute.

(d) This section does not:

(1) grant immunity from suit to a local governmental entity;

(2) waive a defense or a limitation on damages, attorney's fees, or costs available to a party to a suit under this chapter or another statute, including a statute listed in Subsection (a)(1); or

(3) modify an agreement under Chapter 142, 143, or 174.

(e) Before seeking judicial review as provided by Subsection (b), a firefighter or police officer must initiate action pursuant to any applicable grievance or administrative appeal procedures prescribed by state statute or agreement and must exhaust the grievance or administrative appeal procedure.

(f) If judicial review is authorized under statute, judicial review of the grievance or administrative appeal decision is under the substantial evidence rule, unless a different standard of review is provided by the provision establishing the grievance or administrative appeal procedure.

(g) This section does not apply to an action asserting a right or claim based wholly or partly, or directly or indirectly, on a referendum election held before January 1, 1980, or an ordinance or resolution implementing the referendum.