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Texas Payroll/Personnel Resource

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Agency-Specific Provisions
Certification Pay, Education Pay and Bilingual Pay

Background

Certain agencies are authorized to pay a monthly salary stipend to employees classified as commissioned peace officers in Salary Schedule C who achieve certain levels of skill or certifications as approved by the departments. The bases for paying stipends may include the following:

  • Education level
  • Commission on law enforcement standards and education certification level
  • Bilingual capabilities

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Details

These salary stipends are to be paid monthly with eligible employees’ regular salary and do not transfer with an employee to an agency not authorized to pay these stipends. An eligible employee may, if properly qualified, receive Bilingual Pay and either Certification Pay or Education Pay.

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Eligible Agencies

The following agencies are authorized to pay these salary stipends:

  • Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS)
  • Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC)
  • Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD)
  • Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ)
  • Office of the Attorney General (OAG)
  • Texas Department of Insurance (TDI)

Each agency is ultimately responsible for determining which employees qualify for each special pay stipend.

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Amount of Certification Pay

The amount of Certification Pay paid to an eligible employee is based on the level of certification attained on the Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Education Certification exam as follows:

  • $50 per month for certification at intermediate level
  • $100 per month for certification at advanced level
  • $150 per month for certification at master level

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Amount of Education Pay

The amount of Education Pay paid to an eligible employee is based on the type of degree held by the employee as follows:

  • $50 per month for an associate’s degree
  • $100 per month for a bachelor’s degree
  • $150 per month for a master’s degree

Note: An eligible employee may receive either Certification Pay or Education Pay but not both.

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Amount of Bilingual Pay

The amount of Bilingual Pay paid to an eligible employee is $50 per month.

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Additional Resources

To learn more about entering these salary stipends, see Chapter 10, “Special Pays” of the USPS Process Guide (FPP R.017) or the SPRS Entitlement Code Table in the SPRS User Guide (FPP O.003).

Sources

General Appropriations Act, Article IX, Section 3.12(b).