The Comptroller of Public Accounts proposes amendments to §5.1, concerning definitions, §5.4, concerning claims for additional compensation for active, retired, and former district judges, §5.6, concerning expense accounts of district judges and district attorneys, and §5.8, concerning payroll procedures: district judges, criminal district judges, district attorneys, criminal district attorneys. These rules relate to procedures for paying claims made by certain judges and criminal, district, and county attorneys from the Comptroller's Office Judiciary Section appropriation.

Section 5.1 is amended to update the definition of "official mileage guide" to mean the mileage guide currently adopted by the comptroller's office. Section 5.4 is amended to update the statutory reference from the Texas Civil Statute to the Government Code. Section 5.6 is amended for clarity by adding "travel" to the title and deleting reference to outdated expense items in subsection (a)(1)(F) and subsection (c). Section 5.8 is amended to update the reference to the Internal Revenue Service form 204 which is now IRS Form W4.

John Heleman, Chief Revenue Estimator, has determined that for the first five-year period the rule will be in effect, there will be no significant revenue impact on the state or units of local government.

Mr. Heleman also has determined that for each year of the first five years the rule is in effect, the proposed amendments would benefit the public by updating the procedures for requesting and paying claims from the Judiciary Section. The proposed amendment would have no fiscal implications for small businesses. There is no significant anticipated economic cost to individuals who are required to comply with the proposed rule.

Comments on the proposal may be submitted to Leonard Higgins, Comptroller's Judiciary Section, P.O. Box 13528, Austin, Texas 78711.

The amendments are proposed under Government Code, §§24.019, 43.004 and 74.061; and Code of Criminal Procedure, Articles 24.28 and 35.27.

The amendments implement Government Code, §660.043(c), §24.019; and Code of Criminal Procedure, Articles 24.28 and 35.27.