DPSOA Legislative Update
Wednesday, April 30, 2009
Your DPSOA Legislative Committee has been extremely busy and productive over the last couple of weeks. Each week we have had multiple Members donating their uncompensated time, spending several days working our issues and meeting with key legislators.
Last week, DPSOA Vice President Gary Chandler and I each spent several days at the Capitol. On Thursday, Brian, Gary, Chris Pratt and Michael Boyett had a very good meeting with Lt. Governor David Dewhurst to ask for his support in securing the salary increase that the State Auditor recommended and that DPSOA is supporting. DPSOA also met with top aides in House Speaker Joe Straus’s office and with House Appropriations Committee Chairman Jim Pitts. We have previously met with the governor’s office staff, including Kyle Mitchell and Sarah Floerke. All of these high level
Meeting at the Governor's Office
meetings were very positive and encouraging. As with any legislative session, we will not know the final outcome until the closing gavel has struck.
This week, Gary Chandler worked the legislature until after 11:00 pm on Monday. Jason Hester and Jeff Davis spent Tuesday making very effective contacts with key legislators, pulling several from the House floor to discuss HB 2347, by Rep. Kristi Thibaut, which would allow peace officers who are enrolled in courses related to a criminal justice or law enforcement management curriculum to be exempt from the payment of tuition and fees to state institutions of higher education for those courses (similar to a law that is already in place for fire fighters). The amended bill was passed out of the House on a non-record vote and should be sent to the Senate this week. Jason and Jeff also met with legislators on a range of issues including the pay raise, securing the ERS fund, and improving pay and benefits for forensic chemists.
DPSOA also worked with Rep. Terri Hodge to amend her HB 2097 to exempt DPS, TPWL, and TABC law enforcement officers from the bill that would require an employee of a state agency who is authorized by the agency’s administrative head to use a state-owned or state-leased motor vehicle to reimburse the state for the officer’s or employee’s personal use mileage accumulated on the vehicle, including mileage resulting from commuting to and from the officer’s or employee’s residence. This bill was passed by the House as amended and sent to the Senate.
The DPSOA Legislative Committee has also met with ERS, Texas Public Employee Association and legislators to discuss retirement issues, including possibly raising the state and employee contribution to 7% in an effort to protect the system from other benefit changes that have been discussed.
Our top priorities for this legislative session, securing a pay raise, shoring up the ERS fund to secure our benefits, and getting a 13th check for retirees, continue to occupy most of our time and energy. We will continue to work with other state law enforcement agencies in our effort to improve salaries and benefits for our Members. Next week, we are hosting DPS retirees in Austin to work their legislators to secure a 13th check.
Additionally, DPSOA is continuing a dialogue both legislative and Department leadership to improve the benefits for forensic and communications personnel.
We are down to about a month left in this session, which closes on June 1. The DPSOA leadership appreciates the overwhelming support that we receive from our Membership.
Brian Hawthorne
DPSOA President
Gary Chandler
DPSOA Vice-President, Legislative Committee Chair
Message from the President 