Sec. 659.301. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:

(1) "Full-time state employee" means a state employee who normally works at least 40 hours each week.

(2) "Hazardous duty position" means a position in the service of this state that:

(A) renders any individual holding that position a state employee; or

(B) requires the performance of hazardous duty.

(3) "Institution of higher education" has the meaning assigned by Section 61.003, Education Code.

(4) "Part-time state employee" means a state employee who is not a full-time state employee.

(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;

(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.

(6) "Workday" means any day that is not a Saturday, a Sunday, or a state or national holiday under Section 662.003. The term includes a state or national holiday that the General Appropriations Act prohibits state agencies from observing.

Added by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1158, Sec. 37, eff. Sept. 1, 2001.

Amended by:

Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 87 (S.B. 1969), Sec. 25.079, eff. September 1, 2009.

Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1055 (H.B. 2037), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2015.

Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 86 (S.B. 1598), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2019.

Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1143 (H.B. 2816), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2019.