Honorable Larry Phillips, Chair, House Committee on Homeland Security & Public Safety
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB2037 by Geren (Relating to compensation and leave for certain peace officers.), As Introduced
Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB2037, As Introduced: 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 Alcoholic Beverage Code, the Government Code, and the Parks and Wildlife Code to allow certain commissioned peace officers to transfer portions of compensatory and annual leave to a legislative leave pool and 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. Based on LBB analysis, it is assumed the OAG's duties and responsibilities associated with the legislative leave pool could be accomplished by utilizing existing resources.
The State Auditor's Office, Employee Retirement System, Alcoholic Beverage Commission, and Parks and Wildlife Department indicated the costs associated with implementation of the bill could be absorbed with existing resources.
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.
Source Agencies:
302 Office of the Attorney General, 308 State Auditor's Office, 327 Employees Retirement System, 458 Alcoholic Beverage Commission, 802 Parks and Wildlife Department