Relating to injury leave for peace officers injured by an intoxicated driver of a motor vehicle or boat.
Impact
This legislation introduces a new subchapter to Chapter 614 of the Government Code, which governs the benefits and rights afforded to peace officers. The bill establishes a clear framework for compensating officers who are injured as a result of criminal acts involving intoxicated drivers, thereby ensuring that they do not face financial penalties during recovery. Moreover, it allows officers to receive workers' compensation benefits concurrently with the injury leave, although they are not eligible for disability retirement benefits during the leave period.
Summary
House Bill 560 aims to provide specific provisions regarding injury leave for peace officers who sustain injuries due to incidents involving intoxicated operators of vehicles or boats. The bill outlines that a peace officer is entitled to injury leave without a deduction in salary when injured by a driver under the influence while performing their official duties. It specifies that such incidents must occur during the officer's performance of duty and excludes the time spent in transportation to and from their designated headquarters.
Contention
There may be points of contention surrounding the specifics of the injury leave provisions, especially relating to the criteria for eligibility and the duration of benefits. Critics could argue that the bill might place an additional fiscal burden on state resources or that it may inadvertently incentivize officers to claim injury leaves. Furthermore, there may be discussions on how this bill could interact with existing workers' compensation laws, which are already complex and varied across different jurisdictions.
Relating to the employment of certain peace officers, detention officers, county jailers, or firefighters who are injured in the course and scope of duty.
Relating to the requirement that a peace officer take possession of a person's driver's license following the person's failure to pass or refusal to consent to a test for intoxication.
Relating to the suspension of the driver's license of a person arrested for an offense involving the operation of a motor vehicle while intoxicated or under the influence of alcohol.
Relating to creating the criminal offense of boating while intoxicated with a child passenger; changing the eligibility for deferred adjudication community supervision.