BILL ANALYSIS S.B. 1689 By: Montford (Gallego/Carter/Munoz) 05-19-95 Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND Currently, the Texas Department of Public Safety has a rank system that employees obtain through promotion and hold for the duration of their employment. Employees who obtain a senior rank in the agency usually do so after acquiring years of service. The director does not have the ability, as some other agencies do, to allow a more compatible, capable employee placement in a designated key high-level position. PURPOSE As proposed, S.B. 1689 allows the director of the Texas Department of Public Safety the ability to designate key positions within the agency. 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 Chapter 411A, Government Code, by adding Section 411.0071, as follows: Section 411.0071. DIRECT APPOINTMENT TO KEY POSITIONS BY THE DIRECTOR. (a) Authorizes the director to designate as a key position a position in the Texas Department of Public Safety (department) that involves working directly with the director or working as a special assignment in the department. (b) Authorizes the director to directly appoint a person to a position designated as a key position under Subsection (a) under criteria determined solely by the director. Provides that the director's appointment of a person to a key position or transfer of a person from a key position or transfer of a person from a key position to another position for which the person is qualified is not subject to Sections 411.007, 411.0075, 411.0076. SECTION 2. Emergency Clause. Effective Date: upon passage. SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE ACTION S.B. 1689 was considered by the committee in a formal meeting on May 19, 1995. The bill was reported favorably without amendment, with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed, by a record vote of 5 ayes, 0 nays 0 pnv, 4 absent.