Amend CSSB 174 in SECTION 16 of the bill, in added Section 659.253, Government Code, as follows: (1) Between "CLASSIFIED POSITION." and "A state employee" (House committee printing, page 19, line 20) insert "(a)". (2) Add the following to the end of Section 659.253 (House committee printing, page 20, between lines 3 and 4): (b) Except as provided by this section, a state agency that at any time during a state fiscal biennium pays a state employee an exempt salary specifically established in the General Appropriations Act may not subsequently during the state fiscal biennium pay the employee a greater salary under Salary Schedule A, B, or C of the General Appropriations Act. (c) A state agency that pays a state employee an exempt salary specifically established in the General Appropriations Act and that then transfers the employee to a position in which the employee is paid under Salary Schedule A, B, or C of the General Appropriations Act may not grant a merit salary increase to the employee until at least six months after the date that the agency begins to pay the employee under Salary Schedule A, B, or C of the General Appropriations Act. (d) The Legislative Budget Board and the governor together may approve an exception to the salary limitations prescribed by this section for a state employee: (1) on receiving the employing state agency's application for the exception; and (2) if the employee's job responsibilities with the state agency have changed substantially during the state fiscal biennium.