BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 1526

By: King, Phil

Homeland Security & Public Safety

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Concerned parties note that certain state death benefits provided to survivors of certain law enforcement officers are not available to survivors of peace officers employed by private institutions of higher education. H.B. 1526 seeks to extend eligibility for certain benefits to eligible survivors of such peace officers.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

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. 1526 amends the Government Code to expand the applicability of statutory provisions relating to financial assistance administered by the Employees Retirement System of Texas and available for survivors of certain law enforcement officers, fire fighters, and other public officers and employees to include eligible survivors of an individual employed as a peace officer by a private institution of higher education, including a private junior college, that is located in Texas.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2017.