89R9425 MCK-F     By: Hall S.B. No. 1981       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the compensation and benefits for certain peace   officers commissioned by the state fire marshal.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 417.006, Government Code, is amended to   read as follows:          Sec. 417.006.  STATE FIRE MARSHAL PEACE OFFICERS [AND ARSON   INVESTIGATORS].  (a) The state fire marshal may:                (1)  commission peace officers to act as fire and arson   investigators under the state fire marshal's [his] supervision and   to perform other law enforcement duties assigned to the   commissioner and the state fire marshal by law; and                (2)  [.  The state fire marshal may] revoke a peace   officer's commission under this section for just cause.          (b)  The commissioner shall ensure that a peace officer   commissioned under Subsection (a) is compensated according to   Schedule C of the position classification salary schedule   prescribed by the General Appropriations Act.          SECTION 2.  Section 659.301(5), Government Code, is amended   to read as follows:                (5)  "State employee" means an individual who:                      (A)  is a commissioned law enforcement officer of   the Department of Public Safety, the Texas Facilities Commission,   the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, the Texas Department of   Criminal Justice, the attorney general, [or] the insurance fraud   unit of the Texas Department of Insurance, or the state fire   marshal;                      (B)  is a commissioned security officer of the   comptroller;                      (C)  is a law enforcement officer commissioned by   the Parks and Wildlife Commission;                      (D)  is a commissioned peace officer of an   institution of higher education;                      (E)  is an employee or official of the Board of   Pardons and Paroles or the parole division of the Texas Department   of Criminal Justice if the employee or official has routine direct   contact with inmates of any penal or correctional institution or   with administratively released prisoners subject to the board's   jurisdiction;                      (F)  has been certified to the Employees   Retirement System of Texas under Section 815.505 as having begun   employment as a law enforcement officer or custodial officer,   unless the individual has been certified to the system as having   ceased employment as a law enforcement officer or custodial   officer;                      (G)  before May 29, 1987, received hazardous duty   pay based on the terms of any state law if the individual holds a   position designated under that law as eligible for the pay; or                      (H)  is a security officer employed by the Texas   Military Department.          SECTION 3.  Section 661.918(a), Government Code, is amended   to read as follows:          (a)  This section applies to a peace officer under Article   2A.001, Code of Criminal Procedure, who is commissioned as a law   enforcement officer or agent, including a ranger, by:                (1)  the Public Safety Commission and the director of   the Department of Public Safety;                (2)  the Parks and Wildlife Commission;                (3)  the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission;                (4)  the attorney general;                (5)  the insurance fraud unit of the Texas Department   of Insurance; [or]                (6)  the comptroller; or                (7)  the state fire marshal.          SECTION 4.  (a) The classification officer in the office of   the state auditor shall classify the position of commissioned peace   officer employed as an investigator by the Texas Department of   Insurance State Fire Marshal's Office as a Schedule C position   under the position classification plan maintained under Chapter   654, Government Code.          (b)  The change made by the classification officer as   required by this section applies beginning with the state fiscal   biennium beginning September 1, 2025.          (c)  This section expires September 1, 2027.          SECTION 5.  Section 661.918(a), Government Code, as amended   by this Act, applies only to an injury that occurs on or after the   effective date of this Act.          SECTION 6.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.