HBA-NMO H.B. 3374 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 3374
By: Talton
Natural Resources
4/5/99
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Current law authorizes a water district to form a police department with
statewide jurisdiction. However, an instance occurred in which a defunct
water district outside of Houston formed a police department.  H.B. 3374
provides that a peace officer for a water district must be a full-time paid
employee of the district who works an average of at least 32 hours a week,
is compensated at the rate of minimum wage or higher, and is entitled to
all employee benefits offered to other employees of the district. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 49.216, Water Code, to provide that a peace
officer for a water district must be a full-time paid employee of the
district who works on the average of at least 32 hours a week, is
compensated at the rate of minimum wage or higher, and is entitled to all
employee benefits offered to other employees of the district. 

SECTION 2.Emergency clause.
  Effective date: upon passage.

SECTION 3.  Effective date: September 1, 1999.