BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	S.B. 2214
	By: Blanco
	Business & Commerce
	6/8/2023
	Enrolled

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

As a multi-channel contact center the Statewide Intake (SWI) division assesses all relevant reports under Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) / Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) jurisdiction and routes intakes to the appropriate local office. SWI operates every day of the year including nights, holidays, and through inclement weather. In accordance with the DFPS Commissioner's Office Continuity of Operations Plan, SWI is a Mission Essential Function. This means SWI's ability to perform its functions materially contributes to DFPS' ability to protect children and vulnerable adults.  SWI must operate 24 hours a day for every day of the year including all holidays. However, SWI staff do not earn compensatory time off for working holidays that fall on the weekend as is common for similar state employees such as Department of Public Safety and Texas Parks and Wildlife dispatchers. SWI staff are not compensated equitably with other state employees working traditional Monday-Friday schedules.

S. B. 2214 will amend Chapter 662 of the Government Code to entitle an employee of DFPS in the SWI division to compensatory time off at the rate of one hour for each hour worked on a national or state holiday that falls on a Saturday or Sunday.

S.B. 2214 amends current law relating to compensatory time off for certain state employees.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 662.005(b), Government Code, as follows:

(b) Provides that each of the following state employees who is required to work on a national or state holiday that falls on a Saturday or Sunday, except as provided by Section 662.010 (Holiday Before Work Begins or After Work Ends), and notwithstanding Section 659.015 (Overtime Compensation for Employees Subject to Fair Labor Standards Act) or another law, is entitled to compensatory time off at the rate of one hour for each hour worked on the holiday:

(1) an employee of the Department of Family and Protective Services in the statewide intake division who receives reports of abuse or neglect;

(2) a peace officer commissioned by a state officer or state agency listed under Article 2.12 (Who Are Peace Officers), Code of Criminal Procedure;

(3) an employee of the Department of Public Safety of the State of Texas who:

(A) performs communications or dispatch services related to traffic law enforcement; or

(B)� is a public security officer, as that term is defined by Section 1701.001 (Definitions), Occupations Code; or

(4) an employee of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department who performs communications and dispatch services to assist law enforcement officers commissioned by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission in performing law enforcement duties.

Makes nonsubstantive changes.

SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2023.