BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 557

By: Kolkhorst

State Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Several issues have been noted with regard to the use of the state's electronic funds transfer (EFT) payment system operated by the comptroller of public accounts, such as the lack of EFT deposit options for annuitants in the Texas Emergency Services Retirement System similar to those available to annuitants of the state's other retirement systems, lack of conformity between statute and the current Position Classification Plan and the Salary Classification Schedule, and lack of comptroller authorization to pay all authorized employee payroll deductions via EFT. S.B. 557 seeks to remedy these issues with the state's EFT payment system.

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

S.B. 557 amends the Government Code to remove exceptions to the requirement for the comptroller of public accounts to use the electronic funds transfer system to pay an employee's net state salary and travel expense reimbursements. The bill requires the comptroller to use that system to make payments of more than $100 to annuitants by the Texas Emergency Services Retirement System under the retirement system's administrative jurisdiction. The bill authorizes the comptroller to also use the system to deposit the amount of an employee's payroll deduction made as authorized by law.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2019.