LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
 
FISCAL NOTE, 78TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
Revision 1
 
May 23, 2003

TO:
Honorable John Whitmire, Chair, Senate Committee on Criminal Justice
 
FROM:
John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
 
IN RE:
HB2829 by Luna (Relating to supplemental pay for certain Department of Public Safety officers who are proficient in a second language.), Committee Report 2nd House, As Amended



Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB2829, Committee Report 2nd House, As Amended: an impact of $0 through the biennium ending August 31, 2005.

The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill.



Fiscal Year Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds
2004 $0
2005 $0
2006 ($10,169,400)
2007 ($10,169,400)
2008 ($10,169,400)




Fiscal Year Probable (Cost) from
GENERAL REVENUE FUND
1
2004 $0
2005 $0
2006 ($10,169,400)
2007 ($10,169,400)
2008 ($10,169,400)

Fiscal Analysis

The bill would amend the Government Code as it relates to supplemental pay for Department of Public Safety (DPS) officers who are proficient in a second language, earn an associate degree, earn a bachelor's degree, or earn a master's or more advanced degree.  The bill would allow DPS to supplement pay ($100 per month) for officers who speak a second language and the second language is beneficial to public safety.  The bill would require that the officer be able to demonstrate proficiency in the second language through reading, writing, and conversation skills.   Officers would be paid a supplement of $100 per month for an associate degree, $200 per month for a bachelor's degree, and $300 per month for a master's or more advanced degree.

The bill would take effect September 1, 2005.


Methodology

The Department of Public Safety (DPS) reports that the yearly cost to implement the provisions of the bill would be $10,169,400 reflecting the estimated number of officers that are likely to become proficient in a second language or earn a degree.  The maximum amount of supplemental pay for higher education that the department may pay to an officer who has obtained more than one of the degrees listed by the bill is the maximum amount of supplemental pay available for the most advanced degree obtained by an officer ($300 per month). 


Local Government Impact

No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.


Source Agencies:
405 Department of Public Safety, 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts
LBB Staff:
JK, WP, JO, WK, VDS, AR, GG