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.