SRC-BWC S.B. 1066 77(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 1066
77R6741 MTB-DBy: Lucio
State Affairs
4/23/2001
As Filed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

As proposed, S.B. 1066 seeks to enhance the effectiveness of the Texas
Incentive and Productivity Commission, specifically regarding the State
Employee Incentive Program (program).  The program rewards state employees
for suggestions that save money, generate revenue, improve services,
increase efficiency, and enhance the safety of state programs.  S.B. 1066
makes enhancements to the program in order to increase its effectiveness
and generate savings for the state. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Incentive and
Productivity Commission in SECTION 6 (Section 2108.0237, Government Code)
in this bill. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 659.255, Government Code, by adding Subsection
(f) to provide that Subsection (e) (2) does not apply to a merit salary
increase granted under Chapter 2108B.   

SECTION 2.  Amends Section 659.261, Government Code, by adding Subsection
(f) to prohibit a merit salary increase granted under Chapter 2108B from
being considered in computing a maximum amount under this section.   

SECTION 3.  Amends Chapter 661Z, Government Code, by adding Section
661.915, as follows: 

Sec. 661.915.  STATE EMPLOYEE INCENTIVE PROGRAM.  Authorizes a state
employee to be granted leave, which cannot exceed 24 hours during a fiscal
year, without a deduction in salary as a reward for participating in the
state employee incentive program under Chapter 2108B.   

SECTION 4.  Amends Chapter 2108B, Government Code, by adding Section
2108.0225, as follows: 

Sec. 2108.0225.  PROMOTION OF PROGRAM AND INNOVATION.  Requires the Texas
Incentive and Productivity Commission (commission) to develop a statewide
marketing campaign for the incentive program by entering into a contract
with a vendor for advertising services that accomplish certain tasks and
encourage state agencies to host one-day events that promote creativity and
innovation by performing certain tasks. 

SECTION 5.  Amends Section 2108.0236, Government Code, to require the
commission to encourage state employees to form groups to participate in
the incentive program on a temporary basis for the purpose of developing
process improvements in a state agency. 

SECTION 6.  Amends Chapter 2108B, Government Code, by adding Section
2108.0237, as follows: 

Sec. 2108.0237.  INCENTIVE PROGRAM LEAVE.  Authorizes a state employee to
be eligible to receive, within the limits prescribed by Section 661.915,
leave without a deduction in  salary as a reward for participating in the
incentive program.  Requires the commission to adopt rules establishing
leave eligibility criteria under this section.   

SECTION 7.  Amends Section 2108.037, Government Code, as follows:

Sec. 2108.037.  New heading:  RETENTION OF FUNDS; TRANSFER OF CERTAIN
FUNDS.  Requires the affected agency to certify to the comptroller the
amount that equals the difference between that 10 percent and the amount
awarded to an eligible employee for the suggestion under Section 2108.023
or 2108.0236, if 10 percent of the amount of actual or projected savings or
increased revenue attributable to an implemented suggestion, certified
under this section, exceeds the monetary limits on awards given under
Section 2108.023 or 2108.0236.  Requires the comptroller to transfer the
certified amount from money available to the affected agency to money
available to the commission.  Authorizes the affected agency to use a
portion of the savings or revenues attributable to an implemented
suggestion to grant merit salary increases under Section 659.255.  Makes a
conforming change. 

SECTION 8.  Effective date: September 1, 2001.
                       Makes application of this Act prospective.