Honorable Garnet Coleman, Chair, House Committee on County Affairs
FROM:
John S O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB1948 by Gonzalez, Naomi (Relating to the sheriff's department civil service commission appointments in certain counties.), As Introduced
No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend the Local Government Code to change the county population requirements from 2.8 million to 3.3 million regarding commission membership appointments by certain officials if a majority of the employees vote to approve the creation of a sheriff’s department civil service system, as defined by the provisions of the bill.
Members of the civil service commission are not compensated, but the commissioners court is required to reimburse each member for all necessary expenses incurred in performing the member's duties, including providing adequate office space, and sufficient funds to employ an adequate staff and to purchase necessary supplies and equipment.
Local Government Impact
There could be a fiscal impact to a county with a population of less than 3.3 million that chose to create a civil service commission and incur related reimbursable expenses. It is assumed that a county would establish a civil service commission only if sufficient funds were available within the county’s current budget or it would not result in a negative fiscal impact.
Based on the population criteria of certain provisions of the bill, Harris County would be the only applicable county. Because the bill would not have statewide impact on units of local government of the same type or class, no comment from this office is required by the rules of the House/Senate as to its probable fiscal implication on units of local government.