Honorable Phil King, Chair, House Committee on Homeland Security & Public Safety
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB3132 by Hefner (Relating to financial assistance paid to the survivors of certain law enforcement officers and employees killed in the line of duty.), As Introduced
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend Government Code to provide financial assistance to the survivors of jailers and county jailers or guards 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 the guardians of surviving children. The bill would also provide funeral expenses and certain annuity payments.
The occurrence and timing of these events are too difficult to predict. Based upon historical experience, the Employees Retirement System estimates that three additional deaths would be eligible for financial assistance in the five years following implementation of the bill. The Commission on Jail Standards and the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement indicate that there are approximately 18,000 licensed county jailers and two have died in the line of duty since 2014.
The bill would take effect September 1, 2017 and would apply to payments on or after the effective date, regardless of the date the officer or employee died.
Local Government Impact
According to the Texas Association of Counties, Travis County reported the bill would have no fiscal impact on the County as no corrections officers have died in the line of duty.
According to Denton County, the bill would have no significant fiscal impact on the County.
Source Agencies:
304 Comptroller of Public Accounts, 327 Employees Retirement System, 409 Commission on Jail Standards, 696 Department of Criminal Justice