HF 2430 (LSB 6187HV (2) 89)

HOUSE FILE 2430

BY  COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT

(SUCCESSOR TO HSB 666)

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to methods of determining compensation for elected county officers.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 331.212, subsection 2, Code 2022, is amended by adding the following new paragraphs:
   NEW PARAGRAPH.  i.  Setting the compensation schedule of elected county officers, if the board has not established or has dissolved a county compensation board pursuant to section 331.905.
   NEW PARAGRAPH.  j.  Dissolving a county compensation board.
    Sec. 2.  Section 331.321, subsection 1, paragraph l, Code 2022, is amended to read as follows:
   l.  Two members of the county compensation board in accordance with section 331.905, if the board of supervisors has established a county compensation board.
    Sec. 3.  Section 331.322, subsections 6 and 7, Code 2022, are amended to read as follows:
   6.  Review Annually prepare and review the compensation schedule, or review the final compensation schedule of the county compensation board if the board of supervisors has established a county compensation board, and determine the final compensation schedule in accordance with section 331.907.
   7.  Provide necessary office facilities and the technical and clerical assistance requested by the county compensation board to accomplish the purposes of sections 331.905 and 331.907, if the board of supervisors has established a county compensation board.
    Sec. 4.  Section 331.905, subsection 1, unnumbered paragraph 1, Code 2022, is amended to read as follows:
   There is created in each county A board of supervisors may vote to establish a county compensation board which subject to the provisions of this section. The county compensation board shall be composed of seven members who are residents of the county. The members of the county compensation board shall be selected as follows:
    Sec. 5.  Section 331.905, Code 2022, is amended by adding the following new subsection:
   NEW SUBSECTION.  7.  A board of supervisors may dissolve a county compensation board upon a majority vote of the members of the board of supervisors. If the board of supervisors has not established or has dissolved the county compensation board, the board of supervisors shall carry out the duties of the county compensation board, including as provided in section 331.907.
    Sec. 6.  Section 331.907, subsections 1, 2, and 3, Code 2022, are amended to read as follows:
   1.  The If the county board of supervisors has established a county compensation board pursuant to section 331.905, the annual compensation of the auditor, treasurer, recorder, sheriff, county attorney, and supervisors shall be determined as provided in this section. The county 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, the county compensation board shall set 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 chiefs employed by cities of similar population to the population of the county. The county compensation board shall prepare a compensation schedule for the elective elected 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, the county compensation board shall submit its recommended compensation schedule for the next fiscal year to 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 the final 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 board of supervisors may adopt a decrease in compensation paid to supervisors irrespective of the 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 board of supervisors no less than thirty days before the county budget is certified under section 24.17.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill relates to methods of determining compensation for elected county officers.
   Under current law, each county has a county compensation board that prepares a recommended compensation schedule for elected county officers that the county board of supervisors then reviews. Current law provides procedures and limitations that both the county compensation board and board of supervisors must adhere to in determining the final compensation schedule.
   The bill allows a board of supervisors to vote to establish a county compensation board. The county compensation board shall be composed as provided under current law. The board of supervisors may also vote to dissolve a county compensation board. The board of supervisors is responsible for preparing a compensation schedule if the board of supervisors has not established or has dissolved a county compensation board. The bill strikes provisions that prohibit the board of supervisors from exceeding the compensation schedule recommended by the county compensation board or from reducing the amount of the recommended compensation schedule unless the amount of salary increase proposed for each elected county officer is reduced by an equal percentage. Further, the bill strikes a provision that authorizes the board of supervisors to adopt a decrease in compensation paid to supervisors irrespective of the compensation board’s recommended compensation schedule or other approved changes in compensation paid to other elected county officers. The bill makes conforming changes.