Honorable Eddie Lucio, Jr., Chair, Senate Committee on Intergovernmental Relations
FROM:
John McGeady, Assistant Director Sarah Keyton, Assistant Director Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
SB681 by Alvarado (Relating to the criteria to determine compensation and conditions of employment of firefighters and police officers of certain political subdivisions.), As Introduced
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend the Local Government Code to set as the policy of the state that the compensation of fire fighters and police officer shall be set to comparable fire and police departments rather than private sector employment.
According to the Department of Public Safety, no fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
According to the Commission on Fire Protection, approximately 60 percent of the state certifications issued by the commission are for voluntary or professional development certifications. These certifications are not required by the commission, but are available to fire departments and personnel as desired. Possible increased salary costs to local fire departments as a result of the proposed legislation could result in an undetermined decrease in demand for these professional development certifications and thus a possible decrease in testing and certification revenue to the state.
Local Government Impact
According to the Texas Association of Counties, the bill would not have a significant fiscal impact on counties.
According to the Texas Municipal League, the bill provides that peace officers and firefighters must be compensated and have other conditions of employment in an amount equal to other departments. Costs cannot be determined because it would depend on the difference between the two departments that are compared. If the difference is substantial, then the costs to the city that must provide additional compensation or benefits would be substantial.
Source Agencies:
405 Department of Public Safety, 411 Commission on Fire Protection