JH C.S.H.B. 2511 75(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


URBAN AFFAIRS
C.S.H.B. 2511
By: Hunter
5-8-97
Committee Report (Substituted)



BACKGROUND 

Under the Texas Civil Service Act, municipalities who hire personnel in
their police departments are limited to considering only those applicants
who score highest on the civil service examination given to all
applicants.  Other considerations like experience, physical ability, etc.,
may only be considered on a pass/fail basis.  Often, this results in the
best candidates being passed over for consideration. 

PURPOSE

This legislation permits municipal police departments to select candidates
for beginning positions in their departments using an alternative
selection system.  This system allows for the weighting of these other
considerations. 

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 Local Government Code Section 143.025 as follows:
  (e)  Recognizes the commissions ability to adopt an alternative
selection system.    If the  commission has not adopted that alternative
system, an applicant can still   have 5 points added to their examination
grade if they received an honorable   discharge form the US armed forces. 
  (h)  Provides for the scoring of points, unless the alternate system is
used.   
  (i)  Describes the alternate selection system:  The commission can adopt
an   alternate system that would allow them to add points to the final
score on the   written examination.  Points will be awarded from
subsection (j). 
  (j) (1) through (j) (5).  
   (1) years of military service, with an honorable discharge.
   (2) years of service as a peace officer, licensed by TCLEOSE from an
equivalent agency in another state. 
   (3)  number of credits earned in any area of study at an accredited
college    or university. 
   (4)  years of employment, besides police officer, by the municipality
in    which they are applying. 
   (5) results of an oral interview by the interview board.
  (k) Provides the number of points that can be awarded in (j)(1), (j)(2),
and (j)(4).   Also provides for the scoring in (j)(3). 

SECTION 2.  Sets the date for the Act to take effect, September 1, 1997

SECTION 3.  Emergency clause.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE

 Original
SECTION 1.  Section 143.021(c) is deleted from the original

SECTION 2.  Section 143.025(b) is deleted from the original

  Section 143.0265 is deleted from the original.  Some provisions that
were in the   proposed 143.0265 are added to the substitute in Section
143.025(h)-(k). 

Substitute
SECTION 1.   Section 143.025(e) is added amended to provide for the
commission an alternate   selection system. 

  (h), similarly, language is added to provide for the commission an
alternate   selection system. 

  (i), provides the commission can adopt an alternate system that would
allow them   to add points to the final score on the written examination.
Points will be awarded   from subsection (j). 

  (j), provides the Commission can award not more than 50 points to the
examination grade, based on points of 1-10 from the 5 areas mentioned in
(j)(1)   through (j)(5). 
   (1) years of military service, with an honorable discharge.
   (2) years of service as a peace officer, licensed by TCLEOSE from an
equivalent agency in another state. 
   (3) number of credits earned in any area of study at an accredited
college    or university. 
   (4) years of employments, besides police officer, by the municipality
in    which they are applying.  
   (5) results of an oral interview by the interview board.

  (k), provides the number of points that can be awarded in (j)(1),
(j)(2), and (j)(4).    Also provides for the scoring in (j)(3). 

SECTION 2.  Sets date to take effect.