By: Hegar S.B. No. 1477
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to differential pay and benefits for certain officers and
employees of emergency services districts who are members of the
armed forces.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 775, Health and Safety
Code, is amended by adding Section 775.039 to read as follows:
Sec. 775.039. DIFFERENTIAL PAY AND BENEFITS FOR OFFICERS
AND EMPLOYEES OF EMERGENCY SERVICES DISTRICTS. (a) A board may
provide differential pay to a district officer or employee who is a
member of the state military forces or a reserve component of the
United States armed forces who is called to active duty if:
(1) the board adopts a policy providing for
differential pay for all similarly situated officers or employees;
and
(2) the officer's or employee's military pay is less
than the officer's or employee's gross pay from the district.
(b) The combination of differential pay and military pay may
not exceed the officer's or employee's actual gross pay from the
district.
(c) For purposes of this section, military pay does not
include money the officer or employee receives:
(1) for service in a combat zone;
(2) as hardship pay; or
(3) for being separated from the officer's or
employee's family.
(d) The differential pay provided by Subsection (a) begins
when the benefits allowed under Section 431.005, Government Code,
are exhausted and continues until the officer's or employee's
active military duty terminates.
(e) The board may extend the insurance benefits provided by
the district to a district officer or employee who is a member of
the state military forces or a reserve component of the United
States armed forces who is called to active duty and to the
officer's or employee's dependents. The extension period begins
when the benefits allowed under Section 431.005, Government Code,
are exhausted and continues until the officer's or employee's
active military duty terminates.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011.