SRC-VRA S.B. 1303 78(R)BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research CenterS.B. 1303 By: Madla Intergovernmental Relations 6/30/2003 Enrolled DIGEST AND PURPOSE Currently, county auditors serve a two-year term. A new auditor has barely learned the operations of county government and the related laws when it is time to reapply for the position. Similarly, the current public notice requirement for district judges setting auditor compensation is 15 days prior to hearing. S.B. 1303 increases the term of a county auditor to four years and requires a notice of the compensation hearing to be published within a specific time frame. 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 152.905(c), Local Government Code, to require a notice of the hearing regarding compensation of a county auditor, assistant auditors and court reporters to be published not earlier than the 30th or later than the 10th, rather than on or before the 15th, day before the date of the hearing. SECTION 2. Amends Section 152.032, Local Government Code, by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (d), as follows: (a) Makes a conforming change. (d) Authorizes, except as provided by Subsection (b), in a county with a population of 500,000 or more the amount of the compensation and allowances of a county auditor to be set in an amount that exceeds the limit established in Subsection (a) if the compensation and allowances are approved by the commissioners court of the county. SECTION 3. Amends Section 152.071, Local Government Code, by adding Subsection (a-1) to authorize a county government in a county that has a population of more than 7,500, is located on an international boundary, and contains no incorporated territory of a municipality to classify all positions in its sheriff's department and to specify the duties and prescribe the salary for each classification. SECTION 4. Amends Section 152.072, Local Government Code, by adding Subsection (a-1) to authorize the qualified voters of a county that has a population of more than 7,500, is located on an international boundary, and contains no incorporated territory of a municipality to petition the commissioners court of the county to increase the minimum salary of each member of the sheriff's department. SECTION 5. Amends Section 152.074, Local Government Code, by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (a-1), as follows: (a) Requires the commissioners court of a county, in a county with a population of 150,000 or more, to provide longevity pay for each commissioned deputy of the sheriff's department of not less than $5 a month for each year of service in the department, up to and including 25 years. (a-1) Authorizes a county government in a county that has a population of more than 7,500, is located on an international boundary, and contains no incorporated territory of a municipality to provide longevity pay for each commissioned deputy of the sheriff's department of not less than $5 a month for each year of service in the department, up to and including 25 years. Provides that if longevity pay is provided for, each commissioned deputy is entitled to the longevity pay in addition to the deputy's regular compensation. SECTION 6. Makes application of the change in law made by this Act to Subsection (c), Section 152.905, Local Government Code, prospective. SECTION 5. Effective date: July 1, 2003 or September 1, 2003.