RULE 16. APPEALS, HEARINGS AND INVESTIGATIONS

Houston Code of Ordinances ch. 14, art. II, div. 16

in effect

Houston Code of Ordinances § 14-188 Right of appeal; correction of improper disciplinary action.

Sec. 14-188. - Right of appeal; correction of improper disciplinary action. (a) Any regularemployee in the classified service who believes he has been unjustly indefinitely suspended, retired, demoted, transferred, or reduced in any pay may file an appeal with the commission in the same manner as prescribed in section 3 of Article Va pertaining to an appeal and hearing. (b) No disciplinary action shall be taken by the commission, the mayor, a supervisor, or department director against an employee because of membership in any political, religious, or fraternal labor organizations. If the commission finds a disciplinary action has been taken for these reasons, the employee shall be reinstated immediately to the employment roster and may be reimbursed for any loss of pay occasioned by such action. (Ord. No. 2015-1300, § 2(Exh. A), 12-16-2015)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 14-189 Investigations generally.

Sec. 14-189. - Investigations generally. If, at any time, there is brought to the attention of the commission a condition whereby it appears that an injustice has been done an employee in the classified service with respect to his position or duties in the service of the city, the commission is vested with authority to investigate the facts, and if it finds the employee is entitled to relief, it shall make such appropriate order, after review, as will grant the relief to which the employee is entitled, and its finding thereon shall be final; provided, however, that in any instance herein mentioned the commission shall first direct, in writing, the attention of the mayor to the purported injustice and take no action thereon for a period of ten days following delivery of such notice, and only then in the event it finds that the injustice as to such employee has not been corrected by the mayor. (Ord. No. 2015-1300, § 2(Exh. A), 12-16-2015)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 14-190 Right to counsel at hearings.

Sec. 14-190. - Right to counsel at hearings. Any person appearing at a hearing as a party to the cause being heard shall be entitled to legal counsel, but this fact shall not be construed to mean that such representation is necessary. (Ord. No. 2015-1300, § 2(Exh. A), 12-16-2015)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 14-191 Power to administer oaths and require attendance of witnesses and production of records.

Sec. 14-191. - Power to administer oaths and require attendance of witnesses and production of records. In the course of any hearing, investigation, or tests of fitness conducted under the provisions of these rules and regulations, the commission and any other person authorized by it as its representative for such purposes shall have the power to administer oaths, to subpoena, and to require the attendance of witnesses within the legal limits and the production by them of books and papers pertinent to any matter of inquiry, and to examine such witnesses under oath, in relation to any matters properly involved in such proceedings. (Ord. No. 2015-1300, § 2(Exh. A), 12-16-2015)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 14-192 Refusal to testify.

Sec. 14-192. - Refusal to testify. If any officer or employee shall willfully refuse on any grounds to testify or to answer any question relative to the matter being heard by the commission, such refusal shall constitute sufficient grounds for either suspension or termination, and the commission may recommend to the mayor the suspension or discharge if, in its judgment, such disciplinary measure is advisable. Any employee indefinitely suspended for refusing to testify before the commission shall have no right of appeal. (Ord. No. 2015-1300, § 2(Exh. A), 12-16-2015)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 14-193 Investigations on commission's own initiative.

Sec. 14-193. - Investigations on commission's own initiative. The commission may, upon its own initiative, make such inquiries and investigations as it may deem to be warranted regarding the administration and effect of the provisions of Article Va and of ordinances and rules adopted in accordance therewith and to make such recommendations to the mayor, or take such other action as in its judgment is warranted in the premises. (Ord. No. 2015-1300, § 2(Exh. A), 12-16-2015)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 14-194 Hearings to conform to charter.

Sec. 14-194. - Hearings to conform to charter. All hearings shall be held in conformity with Charter provisions covering civil service hearings. (Ord. No. 2015-1300, § 2(Exh. A), 12-16-2015)

Source: City of Houston, Code of Ordinances and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/tx/houston/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH14CISE_ARTIIRU_DIV16RU16.APHEINFetched: 10/26/2026