Bill Caption

Relating to compensation and benefits for commissioned peace officers employed by the attorney general.

Fiscal Notes

Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB 2253, Committee Report 1st House, Substituted: a negative impact of ($2,223,134) through the biennium ending August 31, 2015. The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill.

Bill Analysis

Summary: HB 2253 stipulates that the attorney general must compensate investigators that the office hires according to Schedule C of the position classification salary schedule prescribed by the General Appropriations Act. HB 2253 makes these investigators eligible for the same compensation as law enforcement officers employed by numerous other agencies, including the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission and the Department of Public Safety. This change in law, according to the Legislative Budget Board, will cost Texas $2.2 million over this biennium, and another $3.7 million from 2016-2018.

Analysis: HB 2253 will cost taxpayers nearly $6 million over the next five years. Investigators working for the attorney general's office should not be entitled to a pay increase simply because investigators with other agencies earn more. We oppose HB 2253 on the grounds that it expands government and increases government's burden on taxpayers.