By Uher                                               H.B. No. 3569
         Line and page numbers may not match official copy.
         Bill not drafted by TLC or Senate E&E.
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the functions of a grievance committee in relation to
 1-3     certain elected county officials.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Section 152.016, Subchapter B, Chapter 152, Local
 1-6     Government Code is amended to read as follows:
 1-7           Sec. 152.016.  Functions of Grievance Committee in Relation
 1-8     to Elected Officers.  (a)  An elected county or precinct officer
 1-9     who is aggrieved by the setting of the officer's salary or personal
1-10     expenses may request a hearing before the salary grievance
1-11     committee before the approval the county's annual budget.  The
1-12     request must:
1-13                 (1)  be in writing;
1-14                 (2)  be delivered to the committee chairman within five
1-15     days after the date the officer receives notice of the salary or
1-16     personal expenses; and
1-17                 (3)  state the desired change in salary or personal
1-18     expenses.
1-19           (b)  The committee shall hold a public hearing within 10 days
1-20     after the date the request is received.  The chairman shall
1-21     announce the time and place of the hearing.
 2-1           (c)  If, after the hearing, [six] five or more of the members
 2-2     vote to recommend an increase in the officer's salary or personal
 2-3     expenses, the committee shall submit its recommendation to the
 2-4     commissioners court in writing.  If six [to eight] or more members
 2-5     vote to recommend the increase and sign the recommendation, the
 2-6     commissioners court shall [consider the recommendation at its next
 2-7     meeting.  If nine members vote to recommend the increase and sign
 2-8     the recommendation, the commissioners court shall] include the
 2-9     increase in the budget before the budget is filed and the increase
2-10     takes effect in the next budget year.
2-11           (d)  The committee's authority is limited to the
2-12     consideration of increases in the salaries or personal expenses of
2-13     county and precinct officers.  The committee may not set policy of
2-14     the county or add new items to a proposed county budget.