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The Texas Human Resources Management Statutes Inventory is provided by the State Auditor’s Office as a guide to assist state agencies and higher education institutions. The Inventory, first published in 1972 and updated every two years, is a compilation of major state and federal laws that apply to human resources management. This 24th edition supersedes all previous editions and reflects changes made in the 88th Legislative Session.

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Classification and Compensation

Employment Polices and Practices

Insurance and Benefits

Holidays and Leave

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Employment discrimination laws make it illegal for employers to treat employees and applicants adversely based on race, color, sex, religion, national origin, disability, age, or genetic information. This chapter summarizes some major federal and state laws that are applicable to state agencies and higher education institutions.

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The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) are federal laws that establish workplace requirements that may apply to state agencies and higher education institutions.

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State employees may be eligible for state compensatory time. State compensatory time is accrued on a “straight” time basis, or one hour for one hour worked.

State employees who must work on a designated national or state holiday will be allowed holiday compensatory time off during the 12-month period following the date of the holiday if the employee is entitled to a paid day off from working for a state agency on the holiday.

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The Position Classification Plan, established by the Position Classification Act, requires most state agencies to comply with the salary schedules and compensation provisions of Article IX of the General Appropriations Act.

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For salary administration purposes, there are two types of positions:

  • Classified positions paid in accordance with the Classification Salary Schedules.
  • Positions that are exempted from the Position Classification Plan by authority of the Legislature or the Governor. Salaries for these positions must be set in accordance with the General Appropriations Act.

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Various statutes and policies determine pay for employees in state agencies and higher education institutions. This chapter provides an overview of these statutes but does not cover individual state agency or higher education institution policies and procedures related to employee compensation.

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The Comptroller of Public Accounts, in consultation with the State Auditor, must adopt rules that prescribe uniform procedures for payroll and personnel reporting for all state agencies and that are designed to:

•   Facilitate the auditing of payrolls.

•   Facilitate a classification compliance audit for agencies covered by the State’s Position Classification Plan.

•   Assure conformity with state statute and the General Appropriations Act.

•   Provide the Legislative Audit Committee with current information on employment and wage rate practices in state government.

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In addition to the vacation and sick leave provisions, the State offers leave to employees for specific situations. This chapter covers various leave provisions that may be granted to state employees. Agencies and higher education institutions should review these provisions carefully to determine if employees are eligible to use these leave types.

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State agency employees are entitled to a paid day off from work on national, state, and optional holidays observed by the State.

Higher education institutions can establish their own holiday schedules, as long as the total number of holidays observed does not exceed the number of holidays observed by an employee of a state agency.

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Both state and federal law provide employment and reemployment rights to individuals who are called to military service. These laws provide job and income protection, as well as a means for employees to secure time off when called to military service.

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The State of Texas provides a comprehensive benefits program for employees in state agencies and higher education institutions. Health insurance for most employees is available through the Employees Retirement System. Exceptions include employees of The University of Texas and Texas A&M University systems, which provide their own insurance programs for employees.

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The State offers a defined benefit retirement plan as well as defined contribution retirement plans to employees. Employees are covered under a defined benefit plan (or traditional pension plan) through the Employees Retirement System (ERS), the Teacher Retirement System, or the Judicial Retirement System of Texas. Most state agency employees are covered through ERS.

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Unemployment insurance (UI) is an insurance program paid for by employers that provides benefits to qualified individuals (referred to as claimants within this chapter) who are unemployed through no fault of their own. This program provides temporary, partial income replacement to eligible individuals while they are seeking other employment. With few exceptions, state employees are covered by UI.

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Workers’ compensation is a form of insurance that provides income benefits, medical treatment, and other benefits to workers who are injured on the job or acquire an occupational disease on the job.

The Department of Insurance, Division of Workers’ Compensation oversees the State’s workers’ compensation program. The Office of Injured Employee Counsel was established by the Legislature to represent the interests of workers’ compensation claimants in Texas.

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•   Appendix 1 – Objective, Scope, and Methodology

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•   Appendix 2 – State Agency Responsibilities

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•   Appendix 3 – Entitlements for State Agency Employees

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•   Appendix 4 – Entitlements for Employees of Higher Education Institutions

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•   Appendix 5 – Pay Entitlements upon Separation from State Employment

Jump to Appendix 5 

•   Appendix 6 – Transfer and Rehire Leave Reinstatement Entitlements

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