SRC-MAX S.B. 1236 75(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 1236
By: West
State Affairs
4-23-97
As Filed


DIGEST 

Currently, parole officers perform hazardous duties which include direct
contact with convicted felons and unescorted home visits in high-crime
areas.  Other parole employees are also required to have routine contact
with releasees.  This bill would make parole staff eligible for the
supplemental retirement benefits provided to law enforcement and
correctional employees. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 1236 provides for credit in the Employees Retirement
System of Texas for service as a custodial officer. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

Rulemaking authority is granted to the Board of Pardons and Paroles in
SECTION 2 (Sec. 813.506(a), Government Code) of this bill. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 811.001(8), Government Code, to redefine
"custodial officer." 

SECTION 2. Amends Section 813.506, Government Code, to  require the Texas
Department of Criminal Justice and the Board of Pardons and Paroles, by
rule, to adopt standards for determining eligibility for service credit as
a custodial officer, based on the need to encourage early retirement of
persons whose duties are hazardous and require them to have routine
contact with inmates of the institutional or state jail division, rather
than inmates of or defendants confined in the state jail division, of the
Texas Department of Criminal Justice, or inmates released to mandatory
supervision or on parole, on a regular basis, without the protection of
bars, doors, security screens, or similar devices.  Requires the service
of a custodial officer to meet requirements of the rules adopted under
Subsection (a) and may be performed by persons in  certain job categories.
Requires the Texas Department of Criminal Justice or the Board of Pardons
and Paroles, as applicable, to determine a person's eligibility to receive
credit as a custodial officer.  Makes conforming changes.   

SECTION 3. Effective date:  September 1, 1997.
  Makes application of this Act prospective.

SECTION 4. Emergency clause.