Relating to compensation, leave, and physical fitness programs and standards for certain employees of the office of inspector general of the Texas Juvenile Justice Department.
Summary
SB 1171 makes several personnel-related changes for certain employees of the Office of Inspector General (OIG) of the Texas Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD). It expands the definition of “law enforcement agency” in the Government Code to include the TJJD OIG, and it expressly adds TJJD OIG investigators, inspectors general, security officers, and apprehension specialists to the list of employees who must receive hazardous duty pay. The bill also places TJJD OIG commissioned peace officers within the state’s law-enforcement leave and injury-benefit framework.
The bill further requires TJJD to compensate commissioned peace officers under Schedule C of the state position classification salary schedule, and it directs the state auditor’s classification officer to classify those positions as Schedule C for the 2025-2027 biennium. Those classification changes are temporary in the bill text, with the classification provision expiring September 1, 2027, while the act itself takes effect September 1, 2025. The bill applies prospectively to injuries occurring on or after the effective date.
Impact
SB 1171 amends the Government Code and Human Resources Code to extend hazardous duty pay, leave-related protections, and injury-benefit eligibility to certain TJJD OIG personnel, while also requiring Schedule C compensation for commissioned peace officers in that office. In practical terms, it changes how these employees are paid and treated under state personnel rules, and it creates a specific statutory basis for their classification and compensation during the 2025-2027 state fiscal biennium.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have been broadly supported, especially in the Senate where it passed unanimously 30-0. It also cleared the House by a substantial margin, 105-20 with two present not voting, indicating overall legislative approval for the personnel and compensation changes. The voting pattern suggests the measure was generally viewed as a targeted administrative and workforce adjustment rather than a controversial policy shift.
Contention
The main points of contention appear to have been limited and likely centered on the fiscal and classification implications of expanding mandatory hazardous duty pay and requiring Schedule C compensation for TJJD OIG commissioned officers. The House vote shows some opposition, which may reflect concerns about cost, precedent for other agencies, or the scope of benefits extended to a relatively small group of employees. No committee transcript was provided, so the specific arguments for or against the bill are not available from the record here.
Very Similar
Relating to compensation, leave, and physical fitness programs and standards for certain employees of the office of the inspector general of the Texas Juvenile Justice Department.
Relating to compensation, leave, and physical fitness programs and standards for certain employees of the office of the inspector general of the Texas Juvenile Justice Department.
Relating to eligibility for custodial officer service in the Employees Retirement System of Texas by certain juvenile correctional officers and caseworkers employed by the Texas Juvenile Justice Department.
Relating to eligibility for custodial officer service in the Employees Retirement System of Texas by certain juvenile correctional officers and caseworkers employed by the Texas Juvenile Justice Department.
Relating to service retirement benefits payable by the Employees Retirement System of Texas to certain law enforcement officers and custodial officers.