Texas State Rep. Jim Jackson files bills to address “ghost worker” issues

by Vince Leibowitz of Capitol Annex

State Rep. Jim Jackson (R-Carrollton) today filed several bills, including one to end the so-called practice of hiring “ghost workers” by some Texas legislators.

HB 212 would prevent a former elected official from transferring retirement service credits earned while working in the public sector in the employee class to his or her elected service class account.

“This bill is in response to the ‘Ghost Worker’ issue recently discussed in the media where former elected officials were kept on staff by current legislators, but not being paid a reasonable wage and performing little or no work. “This unethical practice should be stopped,” said Jackson.

In addition, Jackson filed other bills, including one to address truck inspections.

HB 207 was filed to reduce the population threshold in certain counties from 2.2 million to 250,000 that determines the eligibility of a police officer to become certified by the Texas Department of Public Safety to enforce commercial motor vehicle safety standards. This measure allows more sheriffs and deputy sheriffs across the state to perform commercial truck inspections.

Jackson stated, “With the large number of commercial trucks already traveling on Texas highway’s greatly increasing, it is of utmost importance to ensure these vehicles are as safe as possible while traveling on our Texas highways.”

HB 208 was filed in an attempt to clean up the voter rolls kept with the Secretary of State, according to Jackson’s office. The bill amends Sections 16.001 (a) and (b), Election Code to require the local registrar of a county of a decedent to send an abstract of each death certificate not only to the voter registrar of the decedent’s county of residence, but also to the Secretary of State. Additionally, the bill requires lists of individuals disqualified from jury service because of non-citizen status to be forwarded to the Secretary of State and the county or district attorney for an investigation of whether or not such individuals have committed an offense under the Election Code or other law.

“There is no excuse for voter fraud and the state of Texas should make every effort to prevent it from happening,” stated Jackson.

Since November 10th, opening day for pre-filing bills, members of the Texas House have filed 275 House Bills and 27 House Joint Resolutions and 305 Senate Bills and 13 Senate Joint Resolutions pre-filed for consideration during the 81st Legislative Session which begins on Tuesday, January 13, 2008.

— Compiled based on a press release from Rep. Jackson’s office