BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 560

By: Ellis

County Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Current law requires certain county officials—county judges, district attorneys, district judges, county court judges—and court of appeals justices to be paid monthly instead of biweekly, necessitating a separate payroll. Changing the law to allow those officials to be paid biweekly could increase the efficiency of the payroll process.

As proposed, S.B. 560 amends current law relating to authorization for biweekly installment payments for the compensation of certain justices, judges, and district attorneys.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

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

ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 25.0005(c), Government Code, to require that the salary be paid in equal monthly installments or equal biweekly installments if authorized by the commissioners court.

SECTION 2. Amends Section 31.004, Government Code, as follows:

Sec. 31.004. New heading: EQUAL INSTALLMENTS. Requires that the compensation authorized by this chapter be paid in equal monthly installments or equal biweekly installments if authorized by the commissioners courts in the counties of the court of appeals district.

SECTION 3. Amends Section 32.001(b), Government Code, to require that the compensation be paid from the county general fund or other available funds of the county in monthly installments or biweekly installments, rather than in monthly installments, if authorized by the commissioners court.

SECTION 4. Amends Section 43.180(e), Government Code, to requires the Commissioners Court of Harris County to pay the district attorney a salary of not less than $35,000 year to be paid in equal biweekly, rather than monthly, installments.

SECTION 5. Amends Section 152.904(e), Local Government Code, as follows:

(e) Requires the Commissioners Court of Harris County to set the annual salary of the county judge at an amount that is not less than $1,000 more than the total annual salary received by county criminal court at law judges in the county. Requires the salary to be paid in equal biweekly installments, rather than paid in 12 equal monthly installments.

EFFECTIVE DATE

 Effective date: September 1, 2013.