BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 1589

By: Davis

Defense & Veterans' Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

It has been noted that a person who is an officer or employee of the state or a political subdivision of the state and who is a member of the Texas military forces, a reserve component of the armed forces, or a member of a state or federally authorized urban search and rescue team is often called to active duty to provide assistance in response to a disaster, leaving scarce paid leave available for such a person to apply toward the completion of authorized training or otherwise authorized or required duties. In response, there have been calls to grant such persons additional paid leave time in the event that they are called to active duty for the purpose of providing assistance in response to a disaster. H.B. 1589 seeks to provide for that additional paid leave.

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

H.B. 1589 amends the Government Code to entitle a person who is an officer or employee of the state or a political subdivision of the state and who is a member of the Texas military forces, a reserve component of the armed forces, or a member of a state or federally authorized urban search and rescue team and who is called to state active duty by the governor or another appropriate authority in response to a disaster to a paid leave of absence from the person's duties for each day the person is called to active duty during the disaster, not to exceed seven workdays in a fiscal year. That leave is in addition to the paid leave provided for authorized training or duty otherwise authorized or ordered. During a leave of absence provided under these provisions, the person may not be subjected to loss of time, efficiency rating, personal time, sick leave, or vacation time.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2021.