Enrolled Bill Summary

            Senate Bill 355 amends the Government Code to continue the Texas Incentive and Productivity Commission through September 1, 2003. It enlarges the commission, replacing the administrator of the Texas Workforce Commission with two state agency chief executives, one from smaller agencies and one from larger agencies. The act abolishes the productivity bonus program but retains provision for productivity ideas from multiple employees acting in concert, through group and joint suggestions under the state employee incentive program. The act eliminates the formula distribution of savings or revenue, including transfers to a special fund controlled by the commission and used for program administration and bonus awards. Instead, an agency certifies and retains the savings or revenue, to the extent that savings come from its appropriations, and pays bonuses from that money, as granted by the commission. Delayed hirings by agencies are no longer eligible as suggestions, and commission employees may not participate in the program or obtain bonuses. The act allows recognition awards for suggestions that conserve energy, enhance safety, improve customer service, or yield other innovations or improvements, but do not qualify for bonuses. A maximum of 150 recognition awards may be granted in any one year. The act also includes various standard sunset provisions.