By:  Barrientos                                                 S.C.R. No. 31 



SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
	WHEREAS, The State of Texas is committed to providing a total 
compensation package that enables the State to attract, motivate, 
and retain highly skilled and talented employees; and
	WHEREAS, A competitive total compensation package includes 
an effective salary administration program, a comprehensive 
benefits package, and an employee retirement system; now, 
therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the 78th Legislature of the State of Texas 
hereby formalizes the State of Texas Compensation Philosophy as 
stated herein; and, be it further
	RESOLVED, That the State uses the Position Classification 
Plan to pay employees performing similar jobs across agencies at 
similar rates.  The Plan outlines specific job titles and 
occupational groups and establishes salary groups for each job 
title; and, be it further
	RESOLVED, That the Legislature sets not-to-exceed rates for a 
limited number of high-level, executive positions, which are exempt 
from the Plan; and, be it further
	RESOLVED, That the State uses three salary schedules, which 
define salary ranges for job titles:

Schedule A for administrative support, maintenance, 
technical, and paraprofessional jobs

Schedule B for professional and managerial jobs                               

Schedule C for law enforcement jobs at four agencies; and, be 
it further    
	RESOLVED, That to the extent funds are available, the 
Legislature may increase the salary ranges of Salary Schedules A 
and B so that they fall within 10 percent of the market, based on the 
midpoints of the salary groups; and, be it further
	RESOLVED, That to the extent funds are available, the 
Legislature may increase Salary Schedule C actual salaries so that 
they fall in line with the average salaries of Texas' city police 
departments; and, be it further
	RESOLVED, That to the extent funds are available, the 
Legislature may fund across-the-board increases for employees in 
Salary Schedules A and B at not less than 75 percent of the Consumer 
Price Index for the preceding calendar year as reported by the 
United States Bureau of Labor; and, be it further
	RESOLVED, That to the extent funds are available, the 
Legislature may set aside a pool of money to be used by agencies 
that meet certain performance levels as outlined in the General 
Appropriations Act.  Qualifying agencies may use this money to 
grant lump-sum rewards to employees with outstanding performance 
that contributed to the agencies' success; and, be it further
	RESOLVED, That to the extent funds are available, the 
Legislature may provide funding to agencies to encourage granting 
merit and one-time merit increases to employees with high 
performance in order to move employees' base pay throughout their 
salary ranges; and, be it further
	RESOLVED, That to the extent funds are available, the 
Legislature may provide certain correctional positions at the 
Department of Criminal Justice and the Youth Commission with 
automatic salary increases based on the length of time worked in 
their position; and, be it further
	RESOLVED, That the State of Texas will offer a comprehensive 
benefits package, including an insurance program, deferred 
compensation system, and tax-deferred spending accounts; and, be it 
further
	RESOLVED, That to the extent funds are available, the 
Legislature will fund 100 percent of employees' health insurance 
coverage and 50 percent of dependent coverage; and, be it further
	RESOLVED, That the State will offer a defined benefit 
retirement program that provides an annuity to employees who have 
reached certain age and years-of-service requirements; and, be it 
further
	RESOLVED, That the State will pay health insurance premiums 
for retirees and their dependents after the retiree has 10 years of 
state service; and, be it further
	RESOLVED, That employees are eligible for disability 
retirement if they become disabled while performing their work, 
regardless of age or length of service; and, be it further
	RESOLVED, That employees' beneficiaries may receive certain 
benefits if the employee dies before retirement.