BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 1171

By: Perry

Criminal Jurisprudence

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The Office of Inspector General of the Texas Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD) investigates crimes committed by TJJD employees and crimes committed at TJJD facilities. The chief inspector is a commissioned peace officer who is appointed by and reports directly to the Texas Juvenile Justice Board while the inspectors general have all of the powers and duties afforded to peace officers under state law. The bill sponsor has informed the committee that these inspectors are not classified as Schedule C positions otherwise reserved for commissioned law enforcement officers, excluding them from pay parity with other law enforcement agencies. S.B. 1171 seeks to provide this pay parity and allow for certain employees of the Office of Inspector General of TJJD to receive hazardous duty pay by including certain employees of TJJD under certain provisions relating to compensation, leave, and physical fitness programs and standards.

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. 1171 amends the Government Code to replace the authorization for the Texas Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD) to include hazardous duty pay in the compensation paid to an individual for services rendered during a month if the individual is an investigator, inspector general, security officer, or apprehension specialist employed by the office of inspector general of TJJD with a requirement to do so. The bill expands the definition of "law enforcement agency" for purposes of statutory provisions relating to physical fitness programs and standards for commissioned peace officers employed by such a law enforcement agency to include TJJD.

S.B. 1171 makes statutory provisions relating to injury leave for a peace officer who is commissioned as a law enforcement officer or agent, including a ranger, by certain entities applicable with respect to the office of inspector general of TJJD. This provision applies only to an injury that occurs on or after the bill's effective date.

S.B. 1171 amends the Human Resources Code to require TJJD to ensure that a peace officer commissioned by the office of inspector general of TJJD for purposes of carrying out the office's duties is compensated according to Schedule C of the position classification salary schedule prescribed by the General Appropriations Act.

S.B. 1171 requires the classification officer in the office of the state auditor, beginning with the 2026-2027 state fiscal biennium, to classify the position of commissioned peace officer employed by the office of inspector general of TJJD as a Schedule C position under the position classification plan maintained under the Position Classification Act. This requirement expires September 1, 2027.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2025.