SRC-JFA S.B. 1280 75(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 1280
By: Lucio
State Affairs
4-22-97
As Filed


DIGEST 

Currently, the Texas Lottery Commission (TLC) employs approximately 25
certified peace officers that are commissioned by the Commission on Law
Enforcement Officer Standards and Education. Additionally, the peace
officers employed by the TLC are also identified in Section 2.12 of the
Code of Criminal Procedure as certified peace officers.  When the Texas
Lottery was created in 1991, it was expected that the certified peace
officers employed by the Lottery would be eligible to participate in the
certified peace officer's (CPO) retirement program offered by the
Employees Retirement System (ERS) of Texas.  This is not the case.  TLC is
not mentioned in Section 811.001, Government Code.  Therefore, TLC peace
officers are not able to participate in the CPO retirement program of the
ERS system.  This bill would include within the definition of "law
enforcement officer" under Section 811.001, Government Code, a member of
the retirement system who has been commissioned as a law enforcement
officer by the Texas Lottery Commission.   

PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 1280 includes within the definition of "law enforcement
officer" under Chapter 811, Government Code, a member of the Employees
Retirement System who has been commissioned as a law enforcement officer
by the Texas Lottery Commission.   

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 Section 811.001(9), Government Code, to include within
the definition of "law enforcement officer" a member of the Employees
Retirement System who has been commissioned as a law enforcement officer
by the Texas Lottery Commission.   

SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 1997.

SECTION 3. Emergency clause.