The classification officer must regularly study salary rates, survey certain law enforcement departments, analyze and report findings, and review state agencies with high turnover and reduced degree requirements.
Sec. 654.037. SALARY STUDIES AND RECOMMENDATIONS. (a) The classification officer shall: (1) make periodic studies of salary rates in other governmental units and in industry for similar work performed in state government; and (2) report the classification officer's findings from the studies made under Subdivision (1) to the governor's budget office and the Legislative Budget Board not later than October 1 preceding each regular session of the legislature. (b) The classification officer shall conduct, before September 1 of each even-numbered year, a survey of local law enforcement departments that employ more than 1,000 commissioned law enforcement officers to gather information about the total compensation provided by the departments to law enforcement officers. Before January 1 of each odd-numbered year, the classification officer shall analyze the findings of the most recent survey conducted in accordance with this subsection and shall submit to the legislature a report on the findings of the survey and analysis. The report must identify the five local law enforcement departments that provide the highest average total compensation to local law enforcement officers who have been employed by the local law enforcement departments at the maximum salary level. (c) To improve the ability of the state to recruit and retain qualified law enforcement officers, the legislature may consider the report submitted under Subsection (b) in determining the salaries of all state law enforcement officers who hold a position classified under the state employee classification system and are compensated under Salary Schedule C of the General Appropriations Act. (d) Each state fiscal biennium the classification officer shall: (1) identify each state agency that experienced an employee turnover rate of more than 17 percent during the preceding state fiscal biennium; (2) with respect to each state agency described by Subdivision (1), conduct a comparative study of salary rates at the agency that compares the salaries paid at the agency with: (A) the market average maximum salary in other governmental units and in the private sector for similar work performed; and (B) the market average mid-range salary in other governmental units and in the private sector for similar work performed; and (3) report the findings of the study in the manner provided by Subsection (a)(2). (e) The classification officer shall: (1) identify state agency positions for which the educational, experience, and training requirements could be reduced to increase the number of qualified applicants who could proficiently perform the positions; (2) reduce to the extent practicable the number of state agency positions requiring an employee to hold a bachelor's degree as a condition of employment; (3) evaluate ways to expand career advancement opportunities for state agency employees who do not hold a bachelor's degree; and (4) report the information gathered as required by this subsection to the governor's budget office and the Legislative Budget Board in the time required by Subsection (a)(2). Added by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 268, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1993. Amended by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 785, Sec. 18, eff. Sept. 1, 2003. Amended by: Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1312 (S.B. 59), Sec. 40, eff. September 1, 2013. Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 643 (H.B. 3923), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2025.