The bill, S.B. No. 502, amends the Code of Criminal Procedure and various sections of the Government Code to formally recognize peace officers commissioned by the Health and Human Services Commission's office of inspector general as peace officers in Texas. Specifically, it adds a new category (34) to Article 2A.001, which identifies these officers, and includes provisions to ensure they are compensated according to Schedule C of the position classification salary schedule as prescribed by the General Appropriations Act. Additionally, the definition of "state employee" is updated to include these officers, and the bill also amends other sections to reflect their status.

Furthermore, the bill mandates that the classification officer in the office of the state auditor classify the position of commissioned peace officer employed as an investigator by the Health and Human Services Commission's office of inspector general as a Schedule C position, effective from the state fiscal biennium beginning September 1, 2025. The changes made by this bill will take effect on September 1, 2025, and the classification requirement will expire on September 1, 2027.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Government Code 659.301, Government Code 661.918 (Government Code 661, Government Code 659)