TX HB2170

Allows sheriff's department employees facing termination, suspension, promotional bypass, or demotion to elect to appeal to an independent third-party hearing examiner instead of the civil service commission

Establishes a hearing examiner selection process where parties have 10 days to agree on an examiner; if no agreement, a list of seven qualified neutral arbitrators is requested from the American Arbitration Association or Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service

Makes hearing examiner decisions final and binding, with employees waiving district court appeal rights except on grounds of lack of jurisdiction, fraud, collusion, or arbitrary/capricious decisions

Requires hearings to begin within 45 days of examiner selection, with decisions rendered within 10 days for expedited procedures or 30 days for standard appeals; examiner fees and expenses are split equally between the employee and department

Entitles employees whose adverse action is overturned to full back pay, restored benefits including sick leave, vacation, and retirement service credit, with counties required to pay lost wages within two pay periods of reinstatement or face interest charges