PMWJ S.B. 483 75(R)BILL ANALYSIS


JUDICIAL AFFAIRS
S.B. 483
By: Nelson (Hartnett)
5-8-97
Committee Report (Unamended)


BACKGROUND

 Currently, an official court reporter is entitled to receive a regular
salary while temporarily unable to perform his or her duties.  This can be
construed to allow an official court reporter to receive his or her salary
indefinitely, as long as he or she is doing other official work.  


PURPOSE

 S.B. 483 provides that an official court reporter may not receive full
salary for "other official work" in excess of 30 days each year.  In
addition, the official court reporter's salary, while the court reporter
is absent due to illness or unavoidable disability, is determined by
policies of the court or counties responsible for the payment of the
official court reporter's salary and Chapter 504, Labor Code. 


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 Section 52.042, Government Code, by amending Subsection
(c) and adding Subsection (d), to provide that official court reporter is
entitled to receive a regular salary while unable to perform official
duties due to other official work. Prohibits the court reporter from
receiving salary under this subsection for more than 30 days each year.
Requires the salary of an official court reporter due to absences or
disability to be determined by the compensation and leave policy of the
county and Chapter 504, Labor Code. 

 SECTION 2.  Emergency clause.  Effective date.