Honorable Joe Straus, Speaker of the House, House of Representatives
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB1526 by King, Phil (Relating to the provision of state death benefits to peace officers employed by certain private institutions of higher education located in this state.), As Passed 2nd House
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend Government Code to provide financial assistance to the survivors of peace officers employed by private institutions of private education or private junior colleges who are killed in the line of duty. Under provisions of the bill, funding of $500,000 per claim would be provided, as well as monthly payments to surviving children, however the occurrence and timing of these events are too difficult to predict. Based upon historical experience, the Employees Retirement System estimated two additional deaths would be eligible for financial assistance in the five years following implementation of the bill.
The bill would also amend the Insurance Code to make the state responsible for paying insurance contributions for employees of Community Supervision and Corrections Departments (CSCDs). The Employees Retirement System and the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) indicate that, assuming TDCJ would maintain administrative responsibilities such as billing and reconciling payments with CSCDs, there would not be a significant cost to the state. The bill would also repeal Insurance Code Section 1551.322 and Government Code Section 509.011(a-1).
The bill would take effect September 1, 2017 and only apply to deaths that occur on or after that date.
Local Government Impact
No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
Source Agencies:
327 Employees Retirement System, 696 Department of Criminal Justice, 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts, 407 Commission on Law Enforcement