SRC-JRN C.S.H.B. 2491 75(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterC.S.H.B. 2491
By: Alexander (Ratliff)
Education
5-17-97
Committee Report (Substituted)


DIGEST 

In the 73rd Legislature, H.B. 903 established a statewide charitable
program which allows for donations to charitable organizations by
employees of state agencies and institutions of higher education through a
payroll deduction plan.  Because donations are required to be sent to a
regional council to administer the program, some community colleges have
expressed interest in directly providing the funds to local charitable
organizations without having unnecessary administrative costs deducted by
the regional council.  This bill excludes public junior colleges from the
state employee charitable contribution program by stating that public
junior college employees are not considered state employees during a state
fiscal year and provides for certain exceptions. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, C.S.H.B. 2491 excludes public junior colleges from the state
employee charitable contribution program by stating that public junior
college employees are not considered state employees during a state fiscal
year and provides for certain exceptions. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

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

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 659H, Government Code, by adding Section
659.1311, as follows: 

Sec. 659.1311.  PUBLIC JUNIOR COLLEGES.  Provides that a public junior
college is considered to be an institution of higher education and
employees of the public junior college are considered to be state
employees during a state fiscal year unless an affirmative decision not to
participate under this subchapter is made by the governing board of the
public junior college by April 1 of the previous state fiscal year, for
purposes of this subchapter.  Provides that an employee of a public junior
college that elects not to participate in the state employee charitable
contribution program is authorized a deduction from the employee's salary
or wage payment for a charitable contribution as provided by the policy of
the governing board of the public junior college.  Provides that
participation by an employee of a public junior college under this section
is voluntary. 

SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 1997.

SECTION 3. Emergency clause.

SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE CHANGES

SECTION 1. 

Amends Chapter 659H, Government Code, to provide that an employee of a
public junior college that elects not to participate in the state employee
charitable contribution program is authorized a deduction from the
employee's salary or wage payment for a charitable contribution as
provided by the policy of the governing board of the public junior
college. Provides that participation by an employee of a public junior
college under this section is  voluntary.