SB 17-185

Senate Bill 17-185, which has been signed into law, aims to improve compensation and retirement benefits for district attorneys and their staff in Colorado. The bill sets minimum salary standards for assistant district attorneys, chief deputy district attorneys, and deputy district attorneys based on the state public defender's office salaries. It also requires the state to cover a portion of these salaries over time, starting at lower percentages that increase after four years. Additionally, counties can opt to have assistant district attorneys join the Public Employees' Retirement Association (PERA) defined benefit plan, with the state covering 80% and the county covering 20% of the employer contribution for this retirement plan. This bill affects all judicial districts in Colorado and aims to ensure fair compensation and benefits for those working in the district attorney's office.

Official Summary

The district attorney of each judicial district, with the approval of the boards of county commissioners comprising the district, currently fixes the salaries of any assistant district attorney, chief deputy district attorney, and deputy district attorney in the district. There are currently no minimum salary amounts in law for these positions. The bill establishes minimum salary amounts for these positions based upon the salary ranges of certain employees of the state public defender's office. The county or counties making up a judicial district currently pay the entire amount of the salaries of all deputy, chief deputy, and assistant district attorneys working in the district. The bill requires the state to pay a percentage of the salaries, starting at a lower percentage and scaling up to the following percentages after 4 years: Assistant district attorney - 80%; Chief deputy district attorney - 50%; Deputy district attorney - 20%. The bill allows the boards of county commissioners of the counties within a 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 such case, the state would pay 80% and the counties would pay 20% of the employer contribution for an assistant district attorney. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)

Votes