BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 988

By: Kolkhorst

Corrections

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Current law requires certain state employees to use compensatory time off during the  12-month period following the end of the workweek in which it was accrued or the time off lapses.   Due to a number of factors, a correctional officer may be unable to take compensatory time off within the 12-month period and will lose the right to take the time earned. 

H.B. 988 allows compensatory time earned by a correctional officer employed by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice to be taken during the 24-month period following the end of the workweek in which the compensatory time was accrued or the time off lapses.

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. 988 amends the Government Code, in a provision of law establishing that compensatory time off earned by certain state employees lapses if not taken during the 12-month period following the end of the workweek in which the time was accrued, to create an exception for a correctional officer employed by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ). The bill increases that 12-month period to a 24-month period for a TDCJ correctional officer.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2011.