BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	H.B. 4579
88R20839 LRM-F	By: Walle (Hughes)
	Business & Commerce
	5/18/2023
	Engrossed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

State agencies often get requests from new employees transitioning from the private sector for the option to be paid more than once a month, which is common practice in the private sector. Although state law authorizes certain state agency employees to be  compensated twice a month if specified conditions are met, this authorization is limited to employees in positions classified below salary group A12. H.B. 4579 seeks to expand the number of state employees who are eligible to be paid twice a month to include an employee of an applicable state agency who holds a position that is classified in salary group A12, A13, A14, A15, A16, or A17 under classification salary Schedule A in the General Appropriations Act. This proposed change will allow these agencies to better recruit and retain employees who desire compensation twice per month, particularly new hires who may be more familiar with this payment structure. 

H.B. 4579 amends current law relating to the payment of employment compensation by certain state agencies.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 659.082, Government Code, by adding Subsection (c), as follows:

(c)  Authorizes a state agency listed in Subsection (a) (relating to providing that an employee is entitled to be paid employment compensation twice a month under certain circumstances) to elect to pay employment compensation twice a month to an employee who holds a position classified in salary group A12, A13, A14, A15, A16, or A17 under� classification salary Schedule A in the General Appropriations Act.� Requires a state agency that elects to pay employment compensation twice a month under this subsection to satisfy the Comptroller of Public Accounts of the State of Texas's requirements relating to the payment of compensation twice a month.

SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2023.