BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center S.B. 737
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Under current law, hazardous duty pay for a particular month for full-time state employees is paid at the rate of $10 per month for each year of service and is capped at $300 per month. 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. Furthermore, hazardous pay is paid to eligible state employees in lieu of longevity pay, which most state employees are eligible to receive. Since hazardous duty pay is capped at $300 per month, 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. Although not many, there are some state employees who serve for longer than 30 years, including some state troopers. This cap needs to be removed so that employees with tenure may be properly paid for their total years of service.
As proposed, S.B. 737 removes the cap of $300 for a particular month for hazardous duty pay for full-time state employees.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Sections 659.305(a) and (d), Government Code, as follows:
(a) Provides that the amount of a full-time state employee's hazardous pay for a particular month is $10 for each 12-month period of lifetime services credit accrued by the employee, rather than the lesser of such pay or $300. Makes nonsubstantive changes.
(b) Makes a conforming change.
SECTION 2. Repealer: Section 659.305(c) (makes a conforming change regarding the amount of hazardous pay), Government Code.
SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 2007.