PMWJ S.B. 580 75(R)BILL ANALYSIS


JUDICIAL AFFAIRS
S.B. 580
By: Duncan (Jones of Lubbock)
4-30-97
Committee Report (Unamended)



BACKGROUND 

 In Texas, district attorneys and county attorneys performing the duties
of district attorneys may maintain an independent law practice to
supplement their pay unless they are listed in the Professional
Prosecutors Act which provides additional state funding to supplement
existing salaries in exchange for prohibiting the prosecutor from the
private practice of law. 
 Only about 20 elected prosecutors in Texas are not subject to the
Professional Prosectutors Act. 


PURPOSE

 This includes the County Attorney for Crosby County in the Professional
Prosecutors Act.  

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 46.002 of the Government Code to add the county
attorney for Crosby County to the list of professional prosecutors.  

 SECTION 2 amends Section 45.154 of the Government Code to repeal Subsec.
(b) which allows the Crosby County commissioners court to pay the county
attorney compensation "it considers advisable" and to prohibit paying the
county attorney less than the compensation the county attorney was paid on
September 1, 1983. 

 SECTION 3.  Effective date.

 SECTION 4.  Emergency clause.