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Texas Payroll/Personnel Resource

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Agency-Specific Provisions
Clothing and Cleaning Allowances

Background

Certain employees may qualify for clothing and cleaning allowances to supplement their out-of-pocket uniform maintenance expense.

Details

These special pays:

  • Are added to regular salary and not subject to deduction for retirement contribution.
  • Are paid on a monthly basis.
  • Do not transfer with an employee if the employee transfers to an agency that does not grant this special pay.

Note: Agencies are responsible for determining if taxes are applicable.

Eligible Agencies

The following agencies are allowed to provide clothing and cleaning allowances:

  • Department of Public Safety
  • Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission
  • Parks and Wildlife Department
  • Texas Department of Transportation

Each agency listed above is ultimately responsible for determining which of their employees qualify for this special pay.

Note: Commissioned officers (appointed peace officers), tax collectors and travel counselors may qualify for clothing and cleaning allowances.

Policy by Agency

Department of Public Safety (DPS)

Effective Sept. 1, 1997, the clothing allowance changed to $500 for any newly hired or newly commissioned officers. Before that date, a $1200 clothing allowance was authorized. Those officers who were receiving a $1200 allowance before Sept. 1, 1997, were authorized to continue receiving that amount.

If a commissioned officer was not authorized to receive a clothing allowance before Sept. 1, 1997, they may not receive one after that date.

All noncommissioned personnel required to wear uniforms are entitled to a $500 cleaning allowance.

All commissioned personnel required to wear uniform footwear are entitled to a $150 annual allowance.

Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC)

Like DPS officers, TABC commissioned officers were entitled to a $1200 clothing allowance. This amount changed to $500 on Sept. 1, 1997. Those employees who were authorized to receive a $1200 allowance before Sept. 1, 1997, were allowed to continue receiving the amount.

After Sept. 1, 1997, no rank other than that of "agent" is entitled to a $500 cleaning allowance.

TABC also has authority to purchase uniforms for tax collectors at international bridges.

Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD)

The Parks and Wildlife Department is not authorized to provide clothing or cleaning allowances to any non-uniformed personnel.

The Parks and Wildlife Department may provide a cleaning allowance not to exceed $500 per eligible employee per year.

Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT)

The Texas Department of Transportation may provide a cleaning allowance for travel information center personnel and ferry operations personnel not to exceed $500 per year.

Sources

General Appropriations Act (GAA), Rider 28 in the appropriations for the Department of Public Safety; GAA, Rider 10 in the appropriations to the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission; GAA, Rider 22 in the appropriations to the Parks and Wildlife Department; GAA, Rider 27 in the appropriations to the Texas Department of Transportation.