Sec. 44.221. JASPER COUNTY. (a) The criminal district attorney of Jasper County must be at least 25 years old and have been a practicing attorney in this state for five years.

(b) The criminal district attorney shall attend each term and session of the district courts in Jasper County and each term and session of the inferior courts of the county held for the transaction of criminal business and shall exclusively represent the state in all criminal matters before those courts.

(c) The criminal district attorney shall perform the duties conferred by law on county and district attorneys in the various counties and districts.

(d) The criminal district attorney shall collect the fees, commissions, and perquisites that are provided by law for similar services rendered by a district or county attorney.

(e) The criminal district attorney is entitled to receive in equal monthly installments compensation from the state equal to the amount paid by the state to district attorneys. The state compensation shall be paid by the comptroller of public accounts as appropriated by the legislature. The Commissioners Court of Jasper County shall pay the criminal district attorney an additional amount so that the total compensation of the criminal district attorney equals at least 90 percent of the total salary paid to each of the judges of the district courts in Jasper County. The compensation paid by the county shall be paid in monthly or bimonthly installments, as determined by the commissioners court.

(f) The criminal district attorney, for the purpose of conducting the affairs of the office, may appoint a staff composed of assistant criminal district attorneys, investigators, stenographers, clerks, and other personnel that the commissioners court may authorize. The salary of a staff member is in an amount recommended by the criminal district attorney and approved by the commissioners court. The commissioners court shall pay the salaries of the staff in equal monthly or bimonthly installments from county funds.

(g) The legislature may provide for additional staff members to be paid from state funds if it considers supplementation of the criminal district attorney's staff necessary.

(h) The criminal district attorney may not engage in the private practice of law or receive a fee for the referral of a case.

Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 480, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1985.