Honorable Royce West, Chair, Senate Committee on Intergovernmental Relations
FROM:
John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
SB339 by Ellis (Relating to entrance examination procedures for certain police officers under municipal civil service.), As Introduced
No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend Chapter 143, Local Government Code, to require the civil service commission in certain municipalities that have adopted Chapter 143 for police officers to provide for open, competitive, and free entrance examinations to establish an eligibility list for beginning peace officer positions in the police department. The examination may be administered only after the examinees are admitted to a police officer training academy and before the examinees graduate from the academy.
Local Government Impact
If a police department already administers an entrance examination as described in the provisions of the bill, there would be no fiscal impact. If the civil service commission for an applicable police department does not offer a free entrance examination for establishing an eligibility list, there would be costs for developing and administering the examination. As an example, while the City of Abilene Police Department already administers an exam as described in the bill, the department estimates the cost of an examination would be approximately $4,640 per test.