Honorable Joe Straus, Speaker of the House, House of Representatives
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB2037 by Geren (Relating to compensation and leave for certain peace officers.), As Passed 2nd House
Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB2037, As Passed 2nd House: a negative impact of ($3,999,242) through the biennium ending August 31, 2017.
The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill.
Fiscal Year
Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds
2016
($1,964,461)
2017
($2,034,781)
2018
($2,095,438)
2019
($2,122,169)
2020
($2,192,322)
Fiscal Year
Probable Savings/(Cost) from General Revenue Fund 1
Probable Savings/(Cost) from Federal Funds 555
Probable Savings/(Cost) from Interagency Contracts - CJG 444
2016
($1,964,461)
($948,741)
($91,835)
2017
($2,034,781)
($973,618)
($97,376)
2018
($2,095,438)
($993,637)
($98,276)
2019
($2,122,169)
($1,013,987)
($98,596)
2020
($2,192,322)
($1,062,995)
($99,903)
Fiscal Analysis
The bill would amend the Government Code directing the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) to compensate commissioned peace officers employed by the agency according to Schedule C prescribed by the General Appropriations Act.
Under the bill provisions, the OAG indicated the fiscal impact related to compensating commissioned peace officers according to Schedule C would be $3,005,037 in fiscal year 2016, $3,150,775 in fiscal year 2017, $3,187,351 in fiscal year 2018, $3,234,752 in fiscal year 2018, and $3,355,220 in fiscal year 2020.
The State Auditor's Office indicated the costs associated with implementation of the bill could be absorbed with existing resources. The bill would take effect September 1, 2015.
Methodology
Currently, the OAG employs 167 commissioned peace officers in the Law Enforcement Division (96) and the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (71) that are compensated under Schedule B of the General Appropriations Act and are classified as Investigators III-VII, Managers III-IV, and Directors I-II. Under the bill provisions, the commissioned peace officers employed by the OAG would be classified as Sergeants, Lieutenants, Captains, and Majors under Schedule C.
According to the OAG, the classification to Sergeants, Lieutenants, Captains, and Majors would be based on years of service and demonstrated ability. However, generally speaking Investigators III-V would be classified as Sergeants, Investigators VI-VII as Lieutenants, Managers III-IV as Captains, and Directors I-II as Majors. It is assumed the salaries will be based on 12 months of service at constant levels of employment.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.