BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 1462

By: Pickett

Human Services

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Currently, the number of court appointed special advocates (CASA) is insufficient to meet the needs of the children entering the foster care system in Texas. In order to promote advocacy on behalf of these children in the foster care system, H.B. 1462 authorizes state employees to be granted leave, not to exceed five hours each month, to become a CASA volunteer.

H.B. 1462 authorizes a state employee to be granted leave, not to exceed five hours each month, to participate in mandatory training or perform volunteer services for CASA.

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

H.B. 1462 amends the Government Code to authorize a state employee to be granted leave not to exceed five hours each month to participate in mandatory training or perform volunteer services for Court Appointed Special Advocates without a deduction in salary or loss of vacation time, sick leave, earned overtime credit, or state compensatory time.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the act does not receive the necessary vote, the act takes effect September 1, 2009.