| 1 | 1 | | 88R2733 CJC-D |
|---|
| 2 | 2 | | By: Eckhardt S.B. No. 1773 |
|---|
| 3 | 3 | | |
|---|
| 4 | 4 | | |
|---|
| 5 | 5 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
|---|
| 6 | 6 | | AN ACT |
|---|
| 7 | 7 | | relating to an annual adjustment for inflation to the monthly |
|---|
| 8 | 8 | | amount of longevity pay for state employees. |
|---|
| 9 | 9 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|---|
| 10 | 10 | | SECTION 1. Section 659.044, Government Code, is amended by |
|---|
| 11 | 11 | | amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsections (a-1) and (a-2) to |
|---|
| 12 | 12 | | read as follows: |
|---|
| 13 | 13 | | (a) Except as provided by Subsections (e) and (f) and |
|---|
| 14 | 14 | | Section 659.0445, the monthly amount of longevity pay is the amount |
|---|
| 15 | 15 | | set by the comptroller under Subsection (a-1) [$20] for every two |
|---|
| 16 | 16 | | years of lifetime service credit. |
|---|
| 17 | 17 | | (a-1) Not later than July 1 of each year, the comptroller |
|---|
| 18 | 18 | | shall set the amount of longevity pay for purposes of Subsection (a) |
|---|
| 19 | 19 | | in the manner provided by this subsection. The comptroller shall |
|---|
| 20 | 20 | | increase the amount of longevity pay in effect during the year in |
|---|
| 21 | 21 | | which the increase is made by an amount equal to the product of the |
|---|
| 22 | 22 | | amount of longevity pay in effect for that year and the percentage |
|---|
| 23 | 23 | | increase, if any, in an index considered by the comptroller to most |
|---|
| 24 | 24 | | accurately report annual changes in the purchasing power of the |
|---|
| 25 | 25 | | dollar for consumers in this state. The increased amount of |
|---|
| 26 | 26 | | longevity pay is effective for the 12-month period beginning on |
|---|
| 27 | 27 | | September 1 of the year in which the increase is made. Not later |
|---|
| 28 | 28 | | than August 1 of each year, the comptroller shall publish notice of |
|---|
| 29 | 29 | | the increased amount of longevity pay determined under this |
|---|
| 30 | 30 | | subsection and the period for which that amount will be effective in |
|---|
| 31 | 31 | | the Texas Register and post that information in a prominent |
|---|
| 32 | 32 | | location on the comptroller's Internet website. |
|---|
| 33 | 33 | | (a-2) Notwithstanding Subsection (a-1), for the state |
|---|
| 34 | 34 | | fiscal year beginning September 1, 2023, and ending August 31, |
|---|
| 35 | 35 | | 2024, the comptroller shall set the amount of longevity pay for |
|---|
| 36 | 36 | | purposes of Subsection (a) in an amount equal to the sum of $20 and |
|---|
| 37 | 37 | | the product of $20 and the percentage increase, if any, in an index |
|---|
| 38 | 38 | | considered by the comptroller to most accurately report annual |
|---|
| 39 | 39 | | changes in the purchasing power of the dollar for consumers in this |
|---|
| 40 | 40 | | state. This subsection expires September 1, 2024. |
|---|
| 41 | 41 | | SECTION 2. The comptroller of public accounts shall |
|---|
| 42 | 42 | | calculate the amount of longevity pay in effect for the state fiscal |
|---|
| 43 | 43 | | year beginning September 1, 2023, in the manner required by Section |
|---|
| 44 | 44 | | 659.044(a-2), Government Code, as added by this Act. In the state |
|---|
| 45 | 45 | | fiscal year beginning September 1, 2024, and in subsequent state |
|---|
| 46 | 46 | | fiscal years, the comptroller of public accounts shall calculate |
|---|
| 47 | 47 | | the amount of longevity pay in effect for the applicable state |
|---|
| 48 | 48 | | fiscal year in the manner required by Section 659.044(a-1), |
|---|
| 49 | 49 | | Government Code, as added by this Act. |
|---|
| 50 | 50 | | SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
|---|
| 51 | 51 | | a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
|---|
| 52 | 52 | | provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
|---|
| 53 | 53 | | Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
|---|
| 54 | 54 | | Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |
|---|