HBA-JEK S.B. 961 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisS.B. 961
By: Moncrief
County Affairs
4/29/2001
Engrossed



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Current law prohibits a state employee from receiving a salary supplement
from any source unless a specific grant of authority is provided by the
General Appropriations Act or other law.  The Department of Protective and
Regulatory Services (PRS) is experiencing a large employee turnover rate,
including a 26.5 percent caseworker turnover rate in its child protective
services division in 2000. The Associated Press reports that child
protective services caseworkers are being lost to school districts and
private agencies that provide better pay and benefits.  Senate Bill 961
authorizes a county or municipality to supplement the salary of PRS
employees whose duties include providing child and adult protective
services. 

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. 

ANALYSIS

Senate Bill 961 amends the Human Resources Code to authorize a county or
municipality to supplement from its own funds the salary of a Department of
Protective and Regulatory Services 
(PRS) employee whose duties include providing services as part of, or
relating to, the provision of child and adult protective services.  The
bill provides that a PRS employee who has worked in the same position for
PRS in a different region is not eligible for a salary supplement for at
least six months after assuming the position in the new region. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.