C.S.H.B. 554 78(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


C.S.H.B. 554
By: Chisum
County Affairs
Committee Report (Substituted)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently some elected county or precinct officers who have a salary
grievance wait until after their term of office is over, then file a
lawsuit about the salary without having gone through a grievance process. 

CSHB 554 would require county or precinct officers who have a grievance
about their salary or personal expenses to request a hearing before filing
suit. 

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. 

ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.

A hearing must be requested under Section 152.016 before an elected county
or precinct officer may file suit regarding the officer's salary or
personal expenses.  Does not affect a defense, immunity, or jurisdictional
bar available to a county, county official, or employee. 

SECTION 2.

The changes by this Act apply only to a hearing on or after the effective
date of this Act.  

SECTION 3.

This Act takes effect September 1, 2003.


EFFECTIVE DATE

This Act takes effect September 1, 2003


COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE

HB 554 required a county or precinct officer who had a grievance about
their salary, office and travel expenses, or other allowances to go
through a timely grievance process before filing suit.  CSHB 554 changes
"salary, office and travel expenses, or other allowances" to "salary or
personal expenses."