LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 78TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

May 6, 2003

TO:	Honorable Glenn Lewis, Chair, House Committee on County Affairs
FROM:	John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB964 by Guillen (Relating to the salaries and longevity pay of sheriff department personnel.), As Introduced

No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would require a county government to classify all positions in its sheriff's department; would authorize qualified voters of a county to petition the commissioners court to increase the minimum salary of members of the sheriff's department; and would require a county commissioners court to provide longevity pay for each commissioned deputy of the sheriff's department. The longevity pay would be in the amount of not less than $5 per month for each year of service in the department, up to and including 25 years. The bill would take effect September 1, 2003.

Under current statute, there are population brackets that apply to the requirements set forth in the bill; therefore, under current statute, the requirements only apply to certain counties. The provisions of the bill would make the requirements applicable in all counties.

Local Government Impact

The fiscal impact would vary by county. In counties to which the requirements already apply, there would be no fiscal impact. In counties where longevity pay has not previously been required (counties with a population of less than 150,000), the impact would depend on the number of commissioned deputies employed by the department and how long each has been with the department. The highest amount of longevity pay per commissioned officer would be $1,500 annually ($5 x 25 years service x 12 months per year).

Source Agencies:

LBB Staff:

JK, DLBa