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


Senate Research CenterC.S.H.B. 2829
By: Luna (Van de Putte)
Criminal Justice
5-23-2003
Committee Report (Substituted)

DIGEST 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

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to
a state officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends the heading to Section 411.016, Government Code,  to
read as follows: 
 
 Sec. 411.016.  SUPPLEMENTAL PAY FOR OVERTIME HOURS WORKED OR  PROJECTS
FUNDED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. 
 
SECTION 2.  Amends Subchapter A, Chapter 411, Government Code, by adding
Section 411.0161, as follows: 
 
Sec. 411.0161.  SUPPLEMENTAL PAY FOR PROFICIENCY IN SECOND LANGUAGE.  (a)
Authorizes the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS)  to pay a
supplement not to exceed $100 a month to an officer commissioned by DPS
who is proficient in both English and a second language if DPS determines
that the second language is beneficial to protecting the public safety and
the commissioned officer is able to demonstrate proficiency in the second
language by reading, writing, and demonstrating conversation skills in the
second language as determined by DPS. 

  (b)  Provides that a supplemental pay under this section is in addition
to an    officer's regular salary. 

Sec.  411.0162.  SUPPLEMENTAL PAY FOR HIGHER EDUCATION.  (a)  Authorizes
DPS, if an officer commissioned by DPS has obtained one of the following
degrees, or a number of credit hours equivalent to one of the following
degrees, from an accredited public or private college or university, to
pay the officer supplemental pay in an amount not to exceed $100 per month
for an associate degree; $200 per month for a bachelor degree; or $300 per
month for a master's or more advanced degree. 

(b)  Prohibits that the maximum amount of supplemental pay for higher
education that DPS may pay to an officer who has obtained more than one of
the degrees listed in Subsection (a) is the maximum amount of supplemental
pay available under that  subsection for the most advanced degree obtained
by the officer. 

SECTION 3.  (a)  Authorizes DPS to implement Section 411.0161, Government
Code, as added by this Act, only during a fiscal period for which the
legislature specifically appropriates money to the DPS for the purpose of
funding supplemental pay for proficiency in a second language under that
section. 

(b)  Authorizes DPS to implement Section 411.0162, Government Code, as
added by this Act, only during a fiscal period for which the legislature
specifically appropriates money to the DPS for the purpose of  funding
supplemental pay for higher education under that section. 

SECTION 4.  Effective date: September 1, 2005.