More from tomorrow's jam packed House Corrections agenda, this time on pay for corrections workers.
Regular readers have seen me suggest that poor pay and training is a big problem across Texas correctional agencies, and several bills in tomorrow's House Corrections committee meeting address the topic. For starters, HB 1018 by Alonzo would create a career ladder for parole officers, including a short term bump and scheduled annual pay hikes.
After suggesting yesterday that Yvonne Gonzalez Tourreilles had offered up a candidate for dumbest bill of the session, I should pause to point out that she's proposed several good bills to improve employee pay. With Rep. Kolkhorst, she sponsored HB 2497 which would let COs at TDCJ convert unused comp time to cash each year if they have a good conduct record. The pair have also teamed up to propose HB 2499 which would establish a new, six-tiered salary ladder for COs that especially rewards officers with at least 10 years of experience..
A third bill by Gonzallez-Toureilles, HB 2498, appeals to me less - it would create a modest hazard pay stipend for COs, but I feel like if you're going to do that we should just increase CO salaries. It's hazardous work any way you look at it, and hazardous duty pay seems to me a designation without a difference, and a small amount of money to boot. Still, I'm glad she's coming up with ideas to improve pay for guards.
Anyway, COs and parole officers may want to know they've got stakes in the legislation before the Corrections Committee tomorrow, directly so in their paychecks with the above-described bills.
UPDATE: See coverage of these bills in the East Texas Review.
iT WOULD BE NIE TO SEE SOMEONE DO THAT FOR PROBATION OFFICERS. REMEMBER, WE ARE OUT WITH THEM IN THE STREETS NOT IN AN INSTITUTION!
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It is good to know that parole officer are finally being considered for a pay increase. I became a parole officer 2 years ago to fulfill the mission statement of parole, with the intent of making a difference with parole officer's salary. It is finally happen. The secret is to join the union. The union is state agency employee voice. Legislation does not listen to just one person they listen to many people which equal the union. Thank you legislation especially Sen Whitmire and Rep. Turner.
ReplyDeleteProbation officers make more money then parole officers. Probation I am told gets a cost of living increase. Parole officers salary is still in the early 1980's. A single parent parole officer qualify for child care assistant, food stamp, CHIP/SKIP, TANF, etc... and is unable to pay back their student loans. It is parole officer's turn to maybe make the salary of a probation officer.
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