LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 81ST LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

March 27, 2009

TO:	Honorable Garnet Coleman, Chair, House Committee on County Affairs
FROM:	John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB487 by Menendez (Relating to sheriff's department civil service systems in certain counties; providing penalties.), As Introduced

No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would amend Chapter 158, Local Government Code, to make procedural changes and to add procedures to the civil service system for sheriff's offices in certain counties: Bexar, Cameron, Dallas, El Paso, Harris, Hidalgo, Tarrant, and Travis. Some of the new procedures relate to the disciplinary and appeals of the disciplinary process, promotional exams, temporary duties in higher classification positions, leaves of absence, personnel files, investigations of employees, and employee grievances. 

Included in the proposed changes to the applicable civil service system is creation of a criminal penalty for violating the provisions of Subchapter B, Chapter 158, Local Government Code. A violation would be a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not less that $10 or more than $1,000, confinement in the county jail for not more than 30 days, or both a fine and confinement.

Local Government Impact

No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated as a direct result of proposed changes in procedures unless there are an unusually high number of problems within the affected sheriffs' offices. No significant fiscal implication is anticipated related to the criminal penalty unless numerous criminal violations were to occur.

Source Agencies:

LBB Staff:

JOB, DB