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.