SRC-JRN S.B. 1488 75(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 1488
By: Lindsay
Intergovernmental Relations
3-25-97
As Filed


DIGEST 

Currently, the commissioners court of a county is authorized certain
duties and powers.  Because some commissioners courts in counties with
populations of more than one million need certain information regarding
legal matters and are not able to obtain this information, some believe
the courts may have a lack of available legal personnel to handle growing
case loads.  This bill allows the commissioners court of a county to
employ and compensate counsel as necessary to provide legal advice to the
court on the affairs of the county; and provides that the county or
district attorney, as applicable, is the attorney of record for the
county. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 1488 allows the commissioners court of a county to
employ and compensate counsel as necessary to provide legal advice to the
court on the affairs of the county; and provides that the county or
district attorney, as applicable, is the attorney of record for the
county. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Chapter 81B, Local Government Code, by adding Section
81.0235, as follows: 

Sec. 81.0235.  EMPLOYMENT OF COUNSEL.  Requires the commissioners court of
a county to employ and compensate counsel as necessary to provide legal
advice to the court on the affairs of the county, notwithstanding Section
81.023(c).  Provides that the county or district attorney, as applicable,
is the attorney of record for the county. 

SECTION 2. Emergency clause.
  Effective date: upon passage.