(a) The commissioners court of a county with a population of 290,000 to 500,000 shall provide for the payment of a county employee who is made totally unfit to continue employment because of a physical injury occurring in the actual and active discharge of a duty. The payment may not cover more than six months of disability. The payment must be in the following amounts:
(1) full salary for each month, or part of a month, of total disability during the first three months of the disability; and
(2) one-half salary for each month, or part of a month, of total disability during the second three months of the disability.
(b) The commissioners court, before making an award for disability under this section, shall conduct a hearing to determine the merits of the claim and may subpoena and examine witnesses to assist in the determination. The commissioners court may grant or refuse an award.

Terms Used In Texas Local Government Code 157.004

  • Appeal: A request made after a trial, asking another court (usually the court of appeals) to decide whether the trial was conducted properly. To make such a request is "to appeal" or "to take an appeal." One who appeals is called the appellant.
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • Month: means a calendar month. See Texas Government Code 312.011
  • Population: means the population shown by the most recent federal decennial census. See Texas Government Code 311.005
  • Subpoena: A command to a witness to appear and give testimony.
  • Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.

(c) The employee making a claim under this section may appeal a decision of the commissioners court within 10 days after the date of the decision. Appeal is by trial de novo before the court that has jurisdiction of the amount involved.