SRC-TJG S.B. 1256 78(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 1256
78R5889 KSD-FBy: Armbrister
Finance
3/28/2003
As Filed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Currently, commissioned peace officers who work for the state are paid
according to a uniform pay scale.  This scale increases salaries based on
a peace officer's rank in the chain of command. 
As proposed, S.B. 1256 allows the state's commissioned peace officers an
opportunity to earn higher salaries within their respective ranks without
changing the uniform base pay scale.  This bill provides salary stipends
based on peace officers obtaining advanced training certificates or higher
education degrees. 

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 Chapter 411A, Government Code, by adding Sections
411.0161 and 411.0162, as follows: 

Sec. 411.0161.  SUPPLEMENTAL PAY FOR PROFICIENCY CERTIFICATION.  (a)
Provides that an officer commissioned by the Department of Public Safety
of the State of Texas (DPS) who has been issued a proficiency certificate
by the Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education is
entitled to supplemental pay in certain amounts, depending on the
particular certificate, subject to the availability of funds and except as
provided by Subsection (d).  

(b) Provides that the officer is entitled only to the amount of
supplemental pay attributable to the most advanced certificate issued to
the officer, if an officer has been issued more than one of the
certificates described by Subsection (a). 

(c) Provides that an officer who is entitled to supplemental pay under
this section is entitled to that pay in addition to the officer's regular
compensation for as long as the proficiency certification is in effect. 
 
(d) Prohibits an officer who receives supplemental pay under this section
from receiving supplemental pay for obtaining a higher education degree
under Section 411.0162. 

Sec. 411.0162.   SUPPLEMENTAL PAY FOR OBTAINING HIGHER EDUCATION DEGREE.
(a) Provides that an officer commissioned by DPS who has obtained a degree
from an accredited public or private college or university is entitled to
supplemental pay in certain amounts, depending on the particular
certificate, subject to the availability of funds and except as provided
by Subsection (c), 
  
 (b) Provides that the officer is entitled only to the amount of
supplemental pay attributable to the most advanced degree obtained by the
officer, if an officer has obtained more than one of the degrees described
by Subsection (a). 

(c) Prohibits an officer who receives supplemental pay under this section
from receiving supplemental pay for proficiency certification under
Section 411.0161. 

SECTION 3.  Effective date: September 1, 2003.