SENATE FILE 196

BY  JOHNSON

A BILL FOR

An Act abolishing county compensation boards.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

   Section 1.  Section 331.212, subsection 2, Code 2011, is amended by adding the following new paragraph:
   NEW PARAGRAPH.  i.  Setting the compensation schedule of the elected county officers.
   Sec. 2.  Section 331.321, subsection 1, paragraph l, Code 2011, is amended by striking the paragraph.
   Sec. 3.  Section 331.322, subsection 6, Code 2011, is amended to read as follows:
   6.  Review Annually prepare and review the final compensation scheduleof the county compensation board and determine the final compensation schedule in accordance with section 331.907.
   Sec. 4.  Section 331.322, subsection 7, Code 2011, is amended by striking the subsection.
   Sec. 5.  Section 331.323, subsection 1, paragraph e, Code 2011, is amended to read as follows:
   e.  When If the duties of an officer or employee are assigned to one or more elected officers, the board shall set the an initial salary for each elected officer. Thereafter, the salary and, thereafter, shall be determined determine the salary as provided in section 331.907.
   Sec. 6.  Section 331.907, subsections 1 through 4, Code 2011, are amended to read as follows:
   1.  The annual compensation of the auditor, treasurer, recorder, sheriff, county attorney, and supervisors shall be determined as provided in this section. Thecounty compensation board annually shall review the compensation paid to comparable officers in other counties of this state, other states, private enterprise, and the federal government. In setting the salary of the county sheriff, thecounty compensation board shall consider setting the sheriff’s salary so that it is comparable to salaries paid to professional law enforcement administrators and command officers of the state patrol, the division of criminal investigation of the department of public safety, and city police agencies in this state. Thecounty compensation board shall prepare a compensation schedule for the elective county officers for the succeeding fiscal year. A recommended compensation schedule requires a majority vote of the membership of the county compensation board.
   2.  At the public hearing held on the county budget as provided in section 331.434, thecounty compensation board shall submit itsrecommended compensation schedule for the next fiscal yearto the board of supervisors for inclusion in the county budget.The board of supervisors shall review the recommended compensation schedule for the elected county officers and determine the final compensation schedule which shall not exceed the compensation schedule recommended by the county compensation board. In determining the final compensation schedule if the board of supervisors wishes to reduce the amount of the recommended compensation schedule, the amount of salary increase proposed for each elected county officer, except as provided in subsection 3, shall be reduced an equal percentage. A copy of thefinal compensation schedule shall be filed with the county budget at the office of the director of the department of management. The final compensation schedule takes effect on July 1 following its adoption by the board of supervisors.
   3.  The boardof supervisors may adopt a decrease in compensation paid to supervisors irrespective ofthe county compensation board’s recommended compensation schedule or other approved changes in compensation paid to other elected county officers. A decrease in compensation paid to supervisors shall be adopted by the boardof supervisors no less than thirty days before the county budget is certified under section 24.17.
   4.  The elected county officers are also entitled to receive their actual and necessary expenses incurred in performance of official duties of their respective offices. The boardof supervisors may authorize the reimbursement of expenses related to an educational course, seminar, or school which is attended by a county officer after the county officer is elected, but prior to the county officer taking office.
   Sec. 7.  REPEAL.  Section 331.905, Code 2011, is repealed.
EXPLANATION
   This bill provides for the abolition of county compensation boards and transfers to the board of supervisors the duty of setting the compensation schedule for elective county officers.