BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 1828

By: Gonzalez, Naomi

Human Services

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Recent reports show that there has been an increase in the number of forensic and dual diagnosis patients being admitted to state hospitals and state supported living centers in Texas, with one report asserting that more than half of the individuals served in state supported living centers had a dual diagnosis of both intellectual or developmental disabilities and mental illness. Interested parties assert that there is a direct correlation between this increase in patients and the significant increases in injuries being sustained by direct care staff at these facilities. The parties note that in the past few years, workers' compensation claims by direct care staff have increased by roughly 40 percent and that incidents of violence at state-run hospitals have increased by more than 20 percent. In light of these circumstances, H.B. 1828 seeks to allow certain direct care staff to become eligible for hazardous duty pay.

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. 1828 amends the Government Code to include in the definition of "state employee," for purposes of provisions relating to hazardous duty pay, an individual who is an employee of a state supported living center or a state hospital if the employee is in direct contact with patients more than 50 percent of the employee's time working in the facility.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2013.