HBA-LJP H.B. 1675 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1675
By: Burnam
State Affairs
2/26/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

There are some full-time employees of the State of Texas who earn minimum
wage but are unable to pay living expenses.  As a result, some public
employees have to work more than one job or rely on public assistance.
House Bill 1675 establishes a minimum wage for public employees that is
tied to federal poverty guidelines. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 1675 amends the Government Code to require a state or local
governmental entity to pay to a public employee, except a public employee
whose salary is set by the Texas Constitution, a wage that is not less than
the greater of a prescribed minimum hourly wage or the federal minimum
wage.  The bill provides the procedures used for calculating a minimum
hourly wage. 

The bill requires a state or local governmental entity to implement and
adjust its salary schedule as necessary beginning with the first full pay
period,  not later than October 1, 2001 or the first day of the entity's
first fiscal year that begins after the effective date of this Act. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act
takes effect on the 91st day after adjournment.