BWH C.S.H.B. 3047 75(R)BILL ANALYSIS


COUNTY AFFAIRS
C.S.H.B. 3047
By: Alvarado
4-16-97
Committee Report (Substituted)



BACKGROUND 

Constables are a very important part of the law-enforcement establishment
in Texas.  The salaries paid to constables fluctuate wildly from county to
county.  While a modest salary in a rural county may very well be
appropriate, there are some urban counties in Texas in which constables
are very poorly compensated considering the work that they must perform. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, H.B. No. 3047 would mandate in statute that a constable in a
county with a population of 700,000 or more and with fewer than eight
precincts from which constables may be elected shall be paid a minimum
salary in an amount equal to 80% of the salary of the county judge of that
county.  The constable's salary would be in addition to any applicable
longevity pay. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any
additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency or
institution. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Subchapter Z, Chapter 152, Local Government Code, by
adding a new Section 152.907 which provides that constables in a county
with a population of 700,000 or more and with fewer than eight precincts
from which constables may be elected will be paid an amount equal to 80%
of the salary of the county judge. 

SECTION 2. Effective date of September 1, 1997, and clarification that the
provisions of H.B. No. 3047 apply only to the salary paid to a constable
in a county fiscal year beginning after the effective date of H.B. No.
3047. 


SECTION 3.  Emergency clause.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE

The substitute changes the population bracket in the original where the
substitute applies to a county with a population of 700,000 or more and
with fewer than eight precincts from which constables may be elected.