BILL ANALYSIS
By: Williams
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Hazardous duty pay is paid to a number of state employees who are commissioned peace officers, corrections officers, or other employees certified to receive hazardous duty pay. It is paid to eligible state employees in lieu of longevity pay, which most state employees are eligible to receive. Hazardous duty pay is paid at the rate of $10 per month for each year of service and is capped at $300 per month.
Because hazardous duty pay is capped at $300 per month, this means that any employee who puts in more than 30 years of service is no longer eligible to accrue additional hazardous duty pay at the rate of $10 per month. While not many, there are state employees who serve the State of Texas for longer than 30 years. In the case of a state trooper who has put in 40 years of service, for example, the trooper’s hazardous duty is capped at 30 years. Senate Bill 737 removes the cap so that employees with tenure may be properly paid for their years of service.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS
SECTIONA1. Amends Subsections (a) and (d), Section 659.305, Government Code, as follows:
(a) Provides that a full-time state employee’s hazardous duty pay for a particular month is $10 for each 12-month period of lifetime service credit accrued by the employee, rather than the lesser of either that amount or $300.
(d) Makes a conforming change.
SECTIONA2. Makes a conforming change to repeal Section 659.305(c), Government Code.
SECTIONA3. States the date on which the Act takes effect.
EFFECTIVE DATE
September 1, 2007.