CHAPTER 152. AMOUNT OF COMPENSATION, EXPENSES, AND ALLOWANCES OF COUNTY OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES - Texas Statutes

LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE

TITLE 5. MATTERS AFFECTING PUBLIC OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES

SUBTITLE B. COUNTY OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES

CHAPTER 152. AMOUNT OF COMPENSATION, EXPENSES, AND ALLOWANCES OF

COUNTY OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES

SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS

Sec. 152.001. FUNDS FROM WHICH AMOUNTS ARE PAID. Unless

otherwise provided by law, the compensation, expenses, and

allowances set under this code for a district, county, or

precinct officer or employee may be paid from the general fund of

the county in which the officer or employee serves or from any

other funds that are available for that purpose.

Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 149, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987.

Sec. 152.002. SALARY DONATION TO COUNTY. The county may accept

from an elected county or precinct officer a gift or donation of

all or part of the salary paid by the county to the officer. The

county treasurer shall deposit a gift or donation accepted under

this section in the general fund of the county.

Added by Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 1259, Sec. 1, eff. June 18,

1989.

SUBCHAPTER B. AMOUNT OF COMPENSATION, EXPENSES, AND ALLOWANCES

GENERALLY APPLICABLE

Sec. 152.011. AMOUNT SET BY COMMISSIONERS COURT. The

commissioners court of a county shall set the amount of the

compensation, office and travel expenses, and all other

allowances for county and precinct officers and employees who are

paid wholly from county funds.

Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 149, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987.

Sec. 152.012. MINIMUM AMOUNT OF SALARY. The commissioners court

may not set the salary of an officer or employee at an amount

less than the amount of the salary in effect on January 1, 1972.

The court may not set the salary of a justice of the peace at an

amount less than the amount of the salary in effect on May 25,

1973.

Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 149, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987.

Sec. 152.013. PROCEDURE FOR SETTING AMOUNTS FOR ELECTED

OFFICERS. (a) Each year the commissioners court shall set the

salary, expenses, and other allowances of elected county or

precinct officers. The commissioners court shall set the items at

a regular meeting of the court during the regular budget hearing

and adoption proceedings.

(b) Before the 10th day before the date of the meeting, the

commissioners court must publish in a newspaper of general

circulation in the county a notice of:

(1) any salaries, expenses, or allowances that are proposed to

be increased; and

(2) the amount of the proposed increases.

(c) Before filing the annual budget with the county clerk, the

commissioners court shall give written notice to each elected

county and precinct officer of the officer's salary and personal

expenses to be included in the budget.

Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 149, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987.

Sec. 152.014. SALARY GRIEVANCE COMMITTEE. (a) In each county

there is a salary grievance committee composed of the county

judge and:

(1) the sheriff, county tax assessor-collector, county

treasurer, county clerk, district clerk, county attorney or

criminal district attorney, and the number of public members

necessary to provide nine voting members; or

(2) nine public members, if the commissioners court votes to

have nine public members.

(b) The county judge is chairman of the committee, but is not

entitled to vote.

(c) Public members must be residents of the county.

Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 149, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987.

Amended by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 326, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1,

1997; Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 131, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 2004.

Sec. 152.015. SELECTION AND TERM OF PUBLIC MEMBERS ON GRIEVANCE

COMMITTEE. (a) The public members of the salary grievance

committee shall be selected at a meeting of the court at any time

during the year, but not later than the 15th day after the date a

request for a hearing is received under Section 152.016(a). If a

request for a public hearing is not received, the commissioners

court is not required to select public members.

(b) Before the meeting, the county clerk shall place on a

separate slip the name of each person who served on a grand jury

in the county during the preceding calendar year. At the meeting

the slips shall be folded, placed in an appropriate container,

and mixed. The county judge shall draw at random a number of

slips equal to the number of public members needed for the

committee and shall announce the names on the slips. At the

meeting the county judge may repeat this process and make a list

of alternates. A person whose name is drawn becomes a member of

the committee or an alternate on submitting written acceptance to

the clerk. If a person refuses or is unable to serve on the

committee, a replacement shall be appointed from the list of

alternates. If the list of alternates is exhausted or does not

exist, a replacement shall be selected at the next regular or

called commissioners court meeting by random selection of a slip

from the remaining slips. This process shall be repeated until

the required number of public members is selected.

(c) A public member serves until the later of:

(1) the end of the fiscal year in which the public member is

appointed; or

(2) the time the committee takes a final vote on the last of the

grievances for which the committee held a public hearing.

(d) A vacancy in a public member position shall be filled for

the unexpired part of the term by appointment from the list of

alternates. If the list of alternates is exhausted or does not

exist, a replacement shall be filled by random selection of a

slip from the remaining slips at a meeting of the commissioners

court.

Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 149, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987.

Amended by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 326, Sec. 2, eff. Sept. 1,

1997; Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 131, Sec. 2, eff. Jan. 1, 2004;

Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1021, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.

Sec. 152.016. FUNCTIONS OF GRIEVANCE COMMITTEE IN RELATION TO

ELECTED OFFICERS. (a) An elected county or precinct officer who

is aggrieved by the setting of the officer's salary or personal

expenses may request a hearing before the salary grievance

committee before the approval of the county's annual budget. The

request must:

(1) be in writing;

(2) be delivered to the committee chairman within five days

after the date the officer receives notice of the salary or

personal expenses; and

(3) state the desired change in salary or personal expenses.

(b) The committee shall hold a public hearing not later than the

later of the 10th day after:

(1) the date the request is received; or

(2) the date the commissioners court selects the public members

of the committee.

(b-1) The chairman shall announce the time and place of the

hearing.

(c) If, after the hearing, six or more of the members vote to

recommend an increase in the officer's salary or personal

expenses, the committee shall submit its recommendation to the

commissioners court in writing. If six to eight members vote to

recommend the increase, the commissioners court shall consider

the recommendation at its next meeting. If nine members vote to

recommend the increase and sign the recommendation, the

commissioners court shall include the increase in the budget

before the budget is filed and the increase takes effect in the

next budget year.

(d) The committee's authority is limited to the consideration of

increases in the salaries or personal expenses of county and

precinct officers. The committee may not set policy of the county

or add new items to a proposed county budget.

Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 149, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987.

Amended by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 326, Sec. 3, eff. Sept. 1,

1997; Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 131, Sec. 3, eff. Jan. 1, 2004.

Sec. 152.0165. EXHAUSTION OF REMEDIES BEFORE FILING SUIT

REGARDING GRIEVANCE. (a) An elected county or precinct officer

may not file suit regarding the officer's salary or personal

expenses unless a hearing has been requested and held under

Section 152.016.

(b) This section does not affect a defense, immunity, or

jurisdictional bar available to a county or a county official or

employee that is sued by a county or precinct officer based on

the officer's salary, office and travel expenses, or other

allowances.

Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 439, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1,

2003.

Sec. 152.017. EXCEPTIONS. This subchapter does not apply to:

(1) a judge of a court of record;

(2) a presiding judge of a commissioners court in a county with

a population of 2.5 million or more;

(3) a district attorney paid wholly by state funds or the

district attorney's assistants, investigators, or other

employees;

(4) a county auditor, county purchasing agent, or the auditor's

or purchasing agent's assistants or other employees; or

(5) a person employed under Section 10, Article 42.12, Code of

Criminal Procedure.

Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 149, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987.

Amended by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 597, Sec. 89, eff. Sept. 1,

1991.

Sec. 152.018. FORMER PROCEDURES NOT AFFECTED. This subchapter

does not affect a lawful procedure or delegation of authority

established before January 1, 1972, for setting the salary of a

county or precinct employee.

Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 149, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987.

SUBCHAPTER C. AMOUNT OF COMPENSATION AND EXPENSES OF COUNTY

AUDITOR AND ASSISTANTS

Sec. 152.031. COUNTY AUDITOR'S SALARY. (a) At a hearing held

in accordance with Section 152.905, the district judges

appointing the county auditor shall set, by a majority vote, the

auditor's annual salary as compensation for services and the

auditor's travel expenses and other allowances. The action of the

district judges must be taken by order and must be recorded as

prescribed by Section 152.905 and in the minutes of the district

court.

(b) The district clerk shall certify the order to the

commissioners court of the county for its observance. The

commissioners court shall cause the order to be recorded in its

minutes.

(c) The salary shall be paid to the county auditor by monthly

payments or by any other distribution at the option of the

county.

Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 149, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987.

Amended by Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 1, Sec. 11(c), eff. Aug. 28,

1989; Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 1169, Sec. 2, eff. Aug. 28, 1989;

Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 874, Sec. 1, eff. June 16, 1991.

Sec. 152.032. LIMITATIONS ON COUNTY AUDITOR'S COMPENSATION AND

ALLOWANCES. (a) Except as provided by Subsections (b), (d), and

(e), the amount of the compensation and allowances of a county

auditor may not exceed the amount of the compensation and

allowances received from all sources by the highest paid elected

county officer, other than a judge of a statutory county court,

whose salary and allowances are set by the commissioners court.

(b) This subsection applies only to a county that employs an

arena venue project manager hired as of March 7, 2001, and that

has a population of less than 1.4 million in which a municipality

with a population of more than one million is located. The amount

of the compensation and allowances of a county auditor in a

county subject to this subsection may not exceed the amount of

the compensation and allowances received from all sources by the

county budget officer. If the county hires a county budget

officer at a salary lower than the salary of the previous county

budget officer, the county auditor's salary may not be reduced on

that basis.

(c) A county auditor who was in office on August 31, 1987, is

entitled to be paid an annual salary not less than the annual

salary the auditor was being paid on that date.

(d) The amount of the compensation and allowances of a county

auditor in a county subject to this subsection may be set in an

amount that exceeds the limit established by Subsection (a) if

the compensation and allowances are approved by the commissioners

court of the county. This subsection applies only to:

(1) a county with a population of more than 77,000 and less than

80,000;

(2) a county with a population of 120,000 or more, excluding a

county subject to Subsection (b);

(3) a county with a population of more than 1,000 and less than

21,000 that borders the Gulf of Mexico; and

(4) a county that borders a county subject to Subsection (b) and

that has a population of more than 50,000 and less than 85,000.

(e) 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. The amount of the

compensation and allowances of a county auditor in a county

governed by this subsection may exceed the limit imposed by

Subsection (a) if the compensation and allowances are approved by

the commissioners court. If a county is governed by this

subsection and Subsection (b), the amount of compensation and

allowances received by the county auditor may not exceed the

limit imposed by Subsection (b).

Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 149, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987.

Amended by Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 1, Sec. 11(c), eff. Aug. 28,

1989; Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 665, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2001;

Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 581, Sec. 1, eff. June 20, 2003; Acts

2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1225, Sec. 2, eff. July 1, 2003.

Amended by:

Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch.

728, Sec. 23.001(64), eff. September 1, 2005.

Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch.

728, Sec. 23.002(11), eff. September 1, 2005.

Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch.

401, Sec. 1, eff. June 15, 2007.

Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch.

430, Sec. 1, eff. June 15, 2007.

Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch.

1260, Sec. 1, eff. June 15, 2007.

Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch.

87, Sec. 15.004, eff. September 1, 2009.

Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch.

623, Sec. 1, eff. June 19, 2009.

Sec. 152.034. SALARIES OF ASSISTANTS TO COUNTY AUDITOR. The

salaries of assistants to the county auditor are set in the

manner prescribed by Section 84.021.

Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 149, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987.

Sec. 152.035. REIMBURSEMENT FOR MILEAGE EXPENSES. (a) The

commissioners court of a county may reimburse the county auditor

for expenses incurred in traveling to and from the county seat in

the auditor's personal automobile to perform official duties and

to attend conferences and seminars relating to the performance of

official duties. However, the commissioners court may not

reimburse the auditor for expenses incurred in traveling between

the auditor's personal residence and county office or for

expenses incurred in any other travel of a personal nature.

(b) The commissioners court of a county with a population of 3.3

million or more may reimburse an assistant of a county auditor

for the assistant's expenses that are the same kind as those for

which the county auditor may be reimbursed under Subsection (a).

(c) The commissioners court by order shall set the reimbursement

at a reasonable rate.

(d) Reimbursement shall be paid monthly on submission of a sworn

expense report by the person seeking the reimbursement.

Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 149, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987.

Amended by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 669, Sec. 66, eff. Sept. 1,

2001.

SUBCHAPTER D. WITHHOLDING COMPENSATION OF OFFICER WHO ELECTS NOT

TO BE PAID

Sec. 152.051. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "county payroll

officer" means the county auditor or other appropriate county

officer who issues paychecks to county or precinct personnel.

Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 149, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987.

Amended by Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 1259, Sec. 2, eff. June 18,

1989.

Sec. 152.052. DECISION TO REDUCE COMPENSATION OR NOT TO BE PAID.

(a) Within five days after the date an elected county or

precinct officer takes office, the officer shall file an

affidavit with the county payroll officer stating that the

officer elects not to be paid for the officer's services if,

during the person's campaign for election to the county or

precinct office, the person publicly advocated the abolition of

the office. The affidavit must include a statement by the officer

describing the method by which the officer intends to seek to

obtain the abolition of the office for which the officer was

elected and the date by which it is proposed to be accomplished.

(b) An elected county or precinct officer may, at any time,

reduce the amount of compensation set for that office by filing

with the county payroll officer an affidavit stating that the

officer elects to reduce the amount of compensation paid for the

officer's service to a specified amount. The reduction is

effective on the date the affidavit is filed, and the county

payroll officer shall issue any subsequent paychecks for the

officer accordingly.

(c) If an officer covered by Subsection (a) or any other elected

county or precinct officer files an affidavit with the county

payroll officer stating that the officer elects not to be paid

for the officer's services, the county payroll officer may not

issue a paycheck to the officer.

(d) After an affidavit under Subsection (a) of this section is

filed, the county payroll officer shall take measures to stop

payment of a paycheck that was issued to the officer before the

affidavit was filed and that has not been presented for payment.

Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 149, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987.

Amended by Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 1259, Sec. 3, eff. June 18,

1989.

Sec. 152.053. RECORD OF NONPAYMENT. The county payroll officer

shall make an entry in the payroll records of the county to show

each pay period for which the officer is not paid.

Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 149, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987.

Sec. 152.054. RECOVERY OF PAYROLL TAXES. The county payroll

officer shall seek to recover for the county any payroll taxes

paid on the officer's compensation that is not paid.

Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 149, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987.

SUBCHAPTER E. SPECIAL PROVISIONS APPLYING TO SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT

Sec. 152.071. CLASSIFICATION OF POSITIONS; SALARY SCHEDULE. (a)

In a county with a population of more than 75,000, the county

government shall classify all positions in its sheriff's

department and shall specify the duties and prescribe the salary

for each classification.

(a-1) 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 may classify

all positions in its sheriff's department and may specify the

duties and prescribe the salary for each classification.

(b) A member of the sheriff's department who is required to

perform the duties of a particular classification is entitled to

be paid the salary prescribed for that position during the time

the member performs those duties.

Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 149, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987.

Amended by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1225, Sec. 3, eff. July 1,

2003.

Sec. 152.072. PETITION TO INCREASE SALARIES. (a) The qualified

voters of a county with a population of more than 25,000 may

petition the commissioners court of the county to increase the

minimum salary of each member of the sheriff's department.

(a-1) 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 may petition

the commissioners court of the county to increase the minimum

salary of each member of the sheriff's department.

(b) A petition under this section must:

(1) state the amount of the proposed minimum salary for each

rank, pay grade, or classification;

(2) state the effective date of the proposed salary increase;

(3) designate five qualified voters to act as a committee of

petitioners authorized to negotiate with the commissioners court

under Subsection (g); and

(4) be signed by a number of qualified voters equal to at least

25 percent of the number of voters who voted in the most recent

countywide election for county officers.

(c) When a petition is filed under this section, the

commissioners court shall:

(1) adopt the proposed minimum salary stated in the petition;

(2) offer an alternative minimum salary proposal under

Subsection (g); or

(3) call an election on the proposed minimum salary as provided

by this section.

(d) If the commissioners court chooses to call an election, the

only issue that may be submitted regarding the salaries of

members of the sheriff's department is whether the proposed

minimum salary should be adopted. The election shall be held on

the first authorized uniform election date under Chapter 41,

Election Code:

(1) that occurs after the 65th day after the date the petition

was filed; and

(2) on which an election is scheduled to be held throughout the

county for other purposes.

(e) The ballot for the election shall be printed to provide for

voting for or against the proposition: "Adoption of the proposed

minimum salaries of _____________ for members of the Sheriff's

Department at an annual cost of ______________, which may or may

not cause an increase in the county ad valorem property tax." The

proposed salary for each rank, pay grade, or classification as

stated in the petition and the total annual cost of the increases

must be inserted in the blank spaces.

(f) If a majority of the votes cast at the election favor the

adoption of the proposed minimum salary, the minimum salary shall

take effect on or before the date specified in the petition as

the effective date. If the date on which the results of the

official canvass of the election returns are announced is after

the date specified in the petition as the effective date, the

minimum salary shall take effect beginning with the first full

pay period that begins after the date on which the election

results are canvassed.

(g) If the commissioners court chooses to offer an alternative

minimum salary proposal, the commissioners court shall confer

with the committee of petitioners designated in the petition and

offer the alternative salary proposal. If the committee accepts

the alternative salary proposal, the commissioners court is not

required to call an election.

(h) When an election has been held or an alternative salary

proposal has been accepted under this section, a petition for

another election under this section may not be filed until one

year has elapsed after the date the election was held or the

alternative salary proposal was accepted.

Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 149, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987.

Amended by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 808, Sec. 1, eff. Aug. 28,

1995; Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 272, Sec. 1, eff. May 26, 1997;

Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1225, Sec. 4, eff. July 1, 2003.

Sec. 152.073. PENALTY. (a) A person who is a county official

and who is in charge of the sheriff's department or is

responsible for setting the compensation provided by Sections

152.071 and 152.072 commits an offense if the person violates

Section 152.071 or 152.072.

(b) An offense under this section is punishable by a fine of not

less than $10 or more than $100.

(c) Each day on which the county official causes or permits a

violation of this section to occur is a separate offense.

Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 149, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987.

Amended by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 808, Sec. 2, eff. Aug. 28,

1995.

Sec. 152.074. LONGEVITY PAY FOR COMMISSIONED DEPUTIES AND COUNTY

JAILERS. (a) In a county with a population of 150,000 or more,

the commissioners court of a county shall provide to each

commissioned deputy of the sheriff's department longevity pay in

an amount not less than $5 a month for each year of service in

the department, up to and including 25 years. Each commissioned

deputy is entitled to the longevity pay in addition to the

deputy's regular compensation.

(a-1) In a county with a population of 150,000 or more, the

commissioners court may provide to each county jailer of the

sheriff's department longevity pay in the amount provided to a

commissioned deputy under Subsection (a).

(a-2) 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 may 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. If longevity pay

is provided for, each commissioned deputy is entitled to the

longevity pay in addition to the deputy's regular compensation.

(b) The commissioners court shall begin providing the longevity

pay at the beginning of the first fiscal year after the date this

section becomes applicable to the county.

(c) In this section, "county jailer" has the meaning assigned by

Section 1701.001, Occupations Code.

Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 149, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987.

Amended by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 505, Sec. 1, 2, eff. Sept.

1, 2003; Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1225, Sec. 5, eff. July. 1,

2003.

Amended by:

Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch.

728, Sec. 23.001(65), eff. September 1, 2005.

Sec. 152.075. COMPENSATION FOR RESERVE DEPUTY SHERIFFS. (a)

The commissioners court of a county may compensate a reserve

deputy sheriff as provided by law for the compensation of a

deputy sheriff.

(b) The commissioners court may reimburse a reserve deputy

sheriff for reasonable and necessary expenses incurred in the

performance of official duties.

Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 149, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987.

SUBCHAPTER Z. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

Sec. 152.901. TRAVEL EXPENSES FOR CERTAIN COUNTY AGENTS AND

BOARD MEMBERS. (a) The commissioners court of a county may

authorize the payment of reasonable travel expenses incurred by a

person who:

(1) is an agent of the county, or is a board or committee member

appointed by the commissioners court; and

(2) is not a county or precinct officer or employee whose travel

expenses may be set under Section 152.011.

(b) The travel expenses must be incurred by the person while

performing county business authorized by the commissioners court.

Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 149, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987.

Sec. 152.902. COMPENSATION FOR RESERVE DEPUTY CONSTABLES. (a)

The commissioners court of a county may compensate a reserve

deputy constable as provided by law for the compensation of a

deputy constable.

(b) The commissioners court may reimburse a reserve deputy

constable for reasonable and necessary expenses incurred in the

performance of official duties.

Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 149, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987.

Sec. 152.903. COMPENSATION FOR INTERPRETERS EMPLOYED BY DISTRICT

COURTS. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (d), the

commissioners court of a county may set the compensation of

interpreters employed by the district courts in the county.

(b) The salary of an interpreter shall be paid on warrants

issued by the district court or the clerk of the court in favor

of the interpreter.

(c) The salary of an interpreter appointed under Subchapter B,

Chapter 21, Civil Practice and Remedies Code, is payable in equal

monthly payments or by any other distribution at the option of

the county.

(d) This section does not apply to interpreters for deaf or

deaf-mute persons appointed under Subchapter A, Chapter 21, Civil

Practice and Remedies Code, or Article 38.31, Code of Criminal

Procedure.

Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 149, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987.

Amended by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 874, Sec. 2, eff. June 16,

1991.

Sec. 152.904. COMPENSATION OF COUNTY JUDGE IN CERTAIN COUNTIES.

(a) The county judge of Gregg County is entitled to receive an

annual salary set by the commissioners court at an amount that

does not exceed 90 percent of the total annual salary paid to any

district judge in the county.

(b) The county judge of El Paso County is entitled to receive an

annual salary in an amount not to exceed 90 percent of the total

annual salary, including supplements, paid to any district judge

in the county.

(c) The commissioners court of a county with a population of

250,000 to 251,000 shall set the annual salary of the county

judge at an amount equal to or greater than 90 percent of the

salary, including supplements, of any district judge in Galveston

County. However, the salary may not be set at an amount less than

the salary paid the county judge on May 2, 1962.

(d) The county judge of Webb County is entitled to receive a

salary set by the commissioners court at at least $20,000, but

not more than the salary, including any supplements, paid to a

district judge in the county. The salary shall be paid out of the

county treasury by order of the commissioners court and shall be

paid monthly in equal installments or by any other distribution

at the option of the county.

(e) The Commissioners Court of Harris County shall 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. The salary shall be

paid in 12 equal monthly installments.

Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 149, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987.

Amended by Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 2, Sec. 8.11(d), eff. Aug.

28, 1989; Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 597, Sec. 90, eff. Sept. 1,

1991; Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 874, Sec. 3, eff. June 16, 1991;

Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 669, Sec. 67, eff. Sept. 1, 2001.

Sec. 152.905. PROCEDURES FOR SETTING COMPENSATION BY DISTRICT

JUDGES. (a) This section applies only to the compensation of

the county auditor, assistant auditors, and court reporters.

(b) Before setting the amount of annual compensation of the

county auditor, assistant auditors, and court reporters, the

district judge or judges shall hold a public hearing on the

matter at which parties in interest and citizens have an

opportunity to be heard.

(c) Not earlier than the 30th or later than the 10th day before

the date of the hearing, notice of the time, place, and subject

of the hearing must be published in a newspaper of general

circulation in the county.

(d) At the hearing, the district judge or judges shall set the

amount of compensation of the county auditor, assistant auditors,

and court reporters considered at the hearing. The vote must be

recorded, transcribed, and maintained as a public record.

Added by Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 1169, Sec. 1, eff. Aug. 28,

1989. Amended by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1225, Sec. 1, eff.

July 1, 2003.

Sec. 152.906. LONGEVITY PAY FOR DEPUTY CONSTABLES. In a county

with a population of 190,000 or more, the commissioners court may

provide for each county employee or classification of county

employee, including, but not limited to, deputy constables,

longevity pay, in addition to regular compensation, of $5 a

month, or any other amount determined by the commissioners court,

for each year of service in the county, up to and including 30

years.

Added by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 773, Sec. 1, eff. Aug. 26,

1991.

Sec. 152.907. CONTINUING EDUCATION EXPENSES FOR COUNTY AND

PRECINCT OFFICERS. The commissioners court of a county may

authorize payment of reasonable continuing education expenses

incurred by a county or precinct officer if the expenses are

related to the officer's official duties, including expenses

incurred by the officer between the general election at which the

officer is elected and the beginning of the officer's term of

office.

Added by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 980, Sec. 1, eff. June 18,

1999.