District Attorneys' Salaries

Currently, the minimum compensation of a district attorney is set statutorily, and any amount in excess of the minimum is set by the board or boards of county commissioners comprising the district. The current minimum compensation for a district attorney is $130,000. Effective January 1, 2025, the bill increases the minimum compensation for a district attorney to match the compensation of a full-time district court judge.

Under current law, the county or counties comprising a judicial district pay the salaries of assistant district attorneys in proportion to the population of the county to the whole population of the judicial district. The compensation of assistant district attorneys is approved by the board or boards of the county commissioners comprising the judicial district. Effective January 1, 2025, the bill requires the minimum compensation of an assistant district attorney to match the compensation of a full-time county court judge and requires the state to pay 50% of an assistant district attorney's compensation. The district attorney, with the approval of the board or boards of county commissioners of the county or counties comprising the judicial district or with the approval of the city council of a city and county affected, may set an amount in excess of the minimum requirement.

The bill allows the board or boards of county commissioners of the county or counties comprising the judicial district, in consultation with the district attorney, to make a one-time irrevocable election to require an assistant district attorney to become a member of the public employees' retirement association's defined benefit plan. In that case, the state would pay 50% and the counties would pay 50% of the employer contribution for an assistant district attorney.

(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)