BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 3635

By: Turner, John

Appropriations

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Concerns have been raised about the rate of inflation with regard to the payment of certain financial assistance benefits to the survivors of law enforcement officers, firefighters, and other public employees killed in the line of duty. It has been suggested that the lump sum benefit paid to these survivors loses value over time due to inflation. C.S.H.B. 3635 seeks to address this issue by providing for the adjustment of these benefits to account for inflation.

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 rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Employees Retirement System of Texas board of trustees in SECTION 1 of this bill.

ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 3635 amends the Government Code to entitle an eligible survivor of certain public employees killed in the line of duty, or eligible survivors in equal shares, to receive a lump sum payment of financial assistance from the state. The amount payable during the 12 months beginning September 1, 2019, is $500,000. The bill requires the Employees Retirement System of Texas board of trustees, effective September 1 of each following year, to adjust the amount of that lump sum payment by rule by an amount equal to the percentage change in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers, published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor for the preceding year.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2019.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

C.S.H.B. 3635 differs from the original by including a council draft number in the footer.