SRC-VRA H.B. 1681 78(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 1681
78R10527 AKH-DBy: Stick (Wentworth)
Intergovernmental Relations
5/21/2003
Engrossed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Currently, a county auditor's salary is capped at the level of the highest
salary set by the commissioner's court for a non-judicial elected official
of the same county.  However, other non-elected positions in the county do
not have similar limitations to their compensation.  

As accounting rules and financial statutes continue to become more
complex, governments must be able to attract and retain highly qualified
and experienced financial professionals.  H.B. 1681 allows the district
judges who appoint the county auditor, in certain larger counties, to also
set the annual salary of the position, thereby removing the salary cap. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

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

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 152.032, Local Government Code, by amending
Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (d), as follows: 
 
 (a)  Makes a conforming change.
 
(d)  Provides that this subsection applies only to a county with a
population of more than 800,000 that uses an automated system to enhance
internal controls of county finances through the use of automated edit
checks of its automated purchasing system and its comprehensive automated
payroll system. Authorizes the amount of the compensation and allowances
of a county auditor in a county governed by this subsection to exceed the
limit imposed by Subsection (a) if the compensation and allowances are
approved by the commissioners court. Prohibits the amount of compensation
and allowances received by the county auditor, if a county is governed by
this subsection and Subsection (b),  from exceeding the limit imposed by
Subsection (b). 

SECTION 2.  Effective date:  upon passage or September 1, 2003.