The Texas Senate passed House Bill 18,28, which creates a legislative‑leave pool for correctional officers employed by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ). The measure authorizes officers to voluntarily contribute up to 8 hours of compensatory time or annual leave per year into a pool used to permit time off for legislative purposes, subject to rules and withdrawal limits.

Senator Flores, who brought the bill to the floor, told senators that the proposal mirrors previous leave‑pool programs for game wardens and state troopers. "This bill would amend government code to allow correctional officers to voluntarily transfer to a legislative leave pool up to 8 hours of compensatory time or annual leave ..." he said on the floor.

As described in the floor summary, the bill requires TDCJ to adopt rules for the leave pool and to authorize an officer to withdraw time from the pool only with consent of the president or designee of the officers' association. Withdrawals are capped: a peace officer may not draw more than 80 hours from the pool in a 160‑hour work cycle and not more than 480 hours in a fiscal year. Contributions are voluntary and the sponsor said the program would be at "no cost to the taxpayer."

The Senate passed the bill after a series of roll calls; the transcript records passage to third reading and final passage with the secretary announcing "There being 28 ayes and 3 nays. The bill is finally passed." Implementation depends on TDCJ rulemaking to administer the pool.