Bill Caption

Relating to compensation and leave for certain peace officers.

Fiscal Notes

Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for SB 1355, Committee Report 1st House, Substituted: a negative impact of ($3,999,242) through the biennium ending August 31, 2017. 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

SB 1355 would allow donation of accrued compensatory time or annual leave to the legislative leave pool for peace officers who are employed by the attorney general’s office, the alcoholic Beverage Commission, or the Parks and Wildlife Commission. This would allow a peace officer to use time contributed to the legislative pool on behalf of a law enforcement association that is at least 350 members governed by a board of directors. 

Vote Recommendation Notes

SB 1355 would allow peace officers to lobby the Texas legislature during their work hours without any individual financial liability. It is not a legitimate role of government for public employees whose salaries are paid by taxpayers to influence the independent Texas legislature on the taxpayers' time. This does not encourage the self-responsibility of individuals to pay their own expenses and use their own paid leave to discuss their concerns with lawmakers about issues before the legislature.

Private individuals testify before the legislature or visit lawmakers' offices on issues of importance to them on their own time and at their own expense. Public employees interested in visiting the legislature to influence bills of consequence to their own interests should be expected to do so on the same terms as their private sector counterparts. Additionally, this will increase government spending.  We oppose this bill for violating our limited government principle and discouraging personal responsibility.