BILL ANALYSIS



C.S.H.B. 384
By: Junell
04-12-95
Committee Report (Substituted)


BACKGROUND

Under current law, Railroad Commission oil field theft
investigators are not eligible to retire and receive a service
retirement annuity Under Section 814.104 of the Government Code.
PURPOSE

This bill makes employees of the Railroad Commission of Texas who
are licensed by the Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards
and Education and have served at least five years as an
investigator for oil field theft detection division of the Railroad
Commission of Texas eligible to retire and receive a service
retirement annuity.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly
grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer,
department, agency, or institution.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1:  Amends Section 814.104(b) of the Government Code to
include an employee of the Railroad Commission of Texas who is
licensed by the Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and
Education and has served at least five years as an investigator for
the oil field theft detection division.

SECTION 2:  Effective date, September 1, 1995.

SECTION 3: Emergency clause.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE

The original bill added a commissioned peace officer of the
Railroad Commission of Texas engaged in criminal investigations to
the statute.  The substitute changes the addition to be a more
direct reference and narrows the language to an employee of the
Railroad Commission of Texas who is licensed by the Commission on
Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education that has served at
least five years as an investigator for oil field theft detection
division.

SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE ACTION

The bill was considered in a public hearing on February 20, 1995.

Rep. Junell testified as the bill's author.

William S. Nail representing the Employees Retirement System
testified neutrally on the bill.

The bill was referred to a subcommittee consisting of
Representatives Haggerty, Telford and Averitt.  The subcommittee
considered a complete committee substitute for the bill.  The 
substitute was adopted without objection.  The subcommittee voted
to report the bill as substituted back to the full committee by a
record vote of 3 ayes, 0 nays, 0 pnv & 0 absent.

HB 384 was considered on subcommittee report by the committee in a
public hearing on April 12, 1995.  The full committee considered a
complete committee substitute recommended by the subcommittee.  The
substitute was adopted without objection.  

The bill was reported favorably as substituted with the
recommendation that it do pass and be printed, by a record vote of
5 ayes, 0 nays, 0 pnv & 4 absent.