SB17-185 Summary

• Establishes minimum salary requirements for assistant district attorneys at the midpoint of the supervising state public defender's salary range, chief deputy district attorneys at the midpoint of the lead deputy state public defender's salary range, and deputy district attorneys at the entry-level deputy state public defender's salary.

• Requires state funding to cover escalating percentages of district attorney staff salaries: assistant district attorneys (60% in 2017-18, scaling to 80% by 2020-21), chief deputy district attorneys (30% in 2017-18, scaling to 50% by 2020-21), and deputy district attorneys (10% in 2017-18, scaling to 20% by 2020-21), with counties covering the remainder.

• Allows county commissioners within each judicial district to make a one-time irrevocable election to require assistant district attorneys hired after the election to participate in the Public Employees' Retirement Association's defined benefit plan, with the state contributing 80% and counties contributing 20% of employer contributions.

• Takes effect July 1, 2017, and applies to all salaries paid to these district attorney positions on or after that date.