C.S.H.B. 2829 78(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


C.S.H.B. 2829
By: Luna
Law Enforcement
Committee Report (Substituted)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Under current law, commissioned state peace officers, such as state
troopers and other officers working at the Department of Public Safety
(DPS), are paid according to a uniform pay scale. However, some of the
state's commissioned peace officers work in a region where a second
language is prevalent in the peace officer's assigned area, and
proficiency in the second language would enhance the officer's
effectiveness in performing his or her duties.  C.S.H.B. 2829 authorizes
supplemental pay for DPS commissioned officers who display proficiency in
a second language that is beneficial to protecting the public safety. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any
additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or
institution. 

ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 2829 amends Chapter 411 of the Government Code by adding Section
411.0161, which authorizes the Department of Public Safety to pay a
supplement not to exceed $100 a month to an officer commissioned by the
department who is proficient in both English and a second language. To
receive the supplemental pay, the Department of Public Safety must
determine that the second language is beneficial to protecting the public
safety and the officer must be able to demonstrate proficiency in the
second language by reading, writing, and demonstrated conversation skills.
Supplemental pay under this section is in addition to an officer's regular
salary.   

EFFECTIVE DATE

This Act takes effect September 1, 2003.  

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE

C.S.H.B. 2829 modifies the original by requiring the Department of Public
Safety to determine that the second language is beneficial to protecting
the public safety for an officer to be eligible to receive supplemental
pay.  The original required the second language to be predominantly used
in and around the area where the commissioned officer was stationed to be
eligible to receive supplemental pay.  The substitute provides that the
supplemental pay not exceed $100, whereas the original provided that the
supplemental pay is equal to $100.