BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 1321 89R4937 LRM-F By: Hagenbuch Criminal Justice 3/21/2025 As Filed AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT Schedule C is a classification on the pay scale used to compensate state employees. It outlines the salary structure for various law enforcement positions, including Texas Department of Public Safety, Texas Rangers, and other commissioned personnel. The Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) has identified certain positions on their staff that would benefit from being placed in the Schedule C classification. Recruitment and retention is a struggle across law enforcement agencies currently, and increasing these positions to a more competitive pay scale will help TCOLE retain quality peace officers for these vital occupations. S.B. 1321 seeks to add certain TCOLE peace officers to those eligible for Schedule C benefits. It also adds peace officers from TCOLE to the list of officers eligible for injury leave benefits, and grants TCOLE the authority to commission certified peace officers as investigators. This bill will expand hazard duty pay and injury leave benefits to additional law enforcement personnel. It will also ensure TCOLE peace officers receive Schedule C pay, aligning their salaries with other comparable law enforcement positions, helping with recruitment and retention. S.B. 1321 will strengthen the investigative authority within TCOLE. As proposed, S.B. 1321 amends current law relating to compensation and leave for certain peace officers. 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 659.301(5), Government Code, to redefine "state employee." SECTION 2. Amends Section 661.918(a), Government Code, to provide that Section 661.918 (Injury Leave for Certain Peace Officers) applies to a peace officer under Article 2A.001 (Peace Officers Generally), Code of Criminal Procedure, who is commissioned as a law enforcement officer or agent, including a ranger, by certain entities, including the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE), and to make nonsubstantive changes. SECTION 3. Amends Section 1701.160, Occupations Code, as follows: Sec. 1701.160. AUTHORITY TO COMMISSION INVESTIGATORS AS PEACE OFFICERS. (a) Creates this subsection from existing text and makes no further changes. (b) Requires TCOLE to ensure a peace officer commissioned under Subsection (a) is compensated according to Schedule C of the position classification salary schedule prescribed by the General Appropriations Act. SECTION 4. (a) Requires the classification officer in the Office of the State Auditor to classify the position of commissioned peace officer employed by TCOLE as a Schedule C position under the position classification plan maintained under Chapter 654 (Position Classification), Government Code. (b) Provides that the change made by the classification officer as required by this section applies beginning with the state fiscal biennium beginning September 1, 2025. (c) Provides that this section expires September 1, 2027. SECTION 5. Makes application of this Act prospective. SECTION 6. Effective date: September 1, 2025.
BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center S.B. 1321
89R4937 LRM-F By: Hagenbuch
Criminal Justice
3/21/2025
As Filed
Senate Research Center
S.B. 1321
89R4937 LRM-F
By: Hagenbuch
Criminal Justice
3/21/2025
As Filed
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Schedule C is a classification on the pay scale used to compensate state employees. It outlines the salary structure for various law enforcement positions, including Texas Department of Public Safety, Texas Rangers, and other commissioned personnel. The Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) has identified certain positions on their staff that would benefit from being placed in the Schedule C classification. Recruitment and retention is a struggle across law enforcement agencies currently, and increasing these positions to a more competitive pay scale will help TCOLE retain quality peace officers for these vital occupations.
S.B. 1321 seeks to add certain TCOLE peace officers to those eligible for Schedule C benefits. It also adds peace officers from TCOLE to the list of officers eligible for injury leave benefits, and grants TCOLE the authority to commission certified peace officers as investigators. This bill will expand hazard duty pay and injury leave benefits to additional law enforcement personnel. It will also ensure TCOLE peace officers receive Schedule C pay, aligning their salaries with other comparable law enforcement positions, helping with recruitment and retention. S.B. 1321 will strengthen the investigative authority within TCOLE.
As proposed, S.B. 1321 amends current law relating to compensation and leave for certain peace officers.
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 659.301(5), Government Code, to redefine "state employee."
SECTION 2. Amends Section 661.918(a), Government Code, to provide that Section 661.918 (Injury Leave for Certain Peace Officers) applies to a peace officer under Article 2A.001 (Peace Officers Generally), Code of Criminal Procedure, who is commissioned as a law enforcement officer or agent, including a ranger, by certain entities, including the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE), and to make nonsubstantive changes.
SECTION 3. Amends Section 1701.160, Occupations Code, as follows:
Sec. 1701.160. AUTHORITY TO COMMISSION INVESTIGATORS AS PEACE OFFICERS. (a) Creates this subsection from existing text and makes no further changes.
(b) Requires TCOLE to ensure a peace officer commissioned under Subsection (a) is compensated according to Schedule C of the position classification salary schedule prescribed by the General Appropriations Act.
SECTION 4. (a) Requires the classification officer in the Office of the State Auditor to classify the position of commissioned peace officer employed by TCOLE as a Schedule C position under the position classification plan maintained under Chapter 654 (Position Classification), Government Code.
(b) Provides that the change made by the classification officer as required by this section applies beginning with the state fiscal biennium beginning September 1, 2025.
(c) Provides that this section expires September 1, 2027.
SECTION 5. Makes application of this Act prospective.
SECTION 6. Effective date: September 1, 2025.