an opinion on the above eub- matter is as follows~ ject “OWhat la tha i~ximum &alaPy which

may be paid to a radio techulclan and en- gineer employed bj the Sheriff of Mhapton CountJa~” (b$ of Article 3899, Q. Co 5.9 Ppo-

Subdivision the county ef the aherfffns ” ^[0] The Colpfsaioneps Court of Q residence may, upon the written and SWOP~ application the shapfff stating the neaesaitg them- fop, puPchase equipment fop a Bmeau of Cpltinal Identification, .guch aa cameras, fingepppint cmds, inks, -chemicals, RI- cpo8copes9 radio and j&&o~_ato~ 8q,uu~-~ _rent, filing carda), fflfng teap cabheta9 gas other equipment, in keeping with the system in use with the Department of PubliC Safety of this State, OP the Uhited States Department of Justice an&fop, ,Bmeaa of C~lliual Identfflcation,” (Emphasis OIIPS) It wa8 held in Attome b)enbPaPns Opinion no, O-6918 that although a photoatatie ~~.bifnor could be PUP- the Codeafone~a~ chased fop the county clerkDs offfce, CeuPt did not have anthoPftJ to employ an OpaPatoP fop such machine but that'lt would be the duty of the cowtj clerk, his deputy, assistant clerk to operate the same.

=-. _ xon. Dormaa Bickels, page (v-558) exiimlmoil the vaM.eus stata*

We heve orrefull~ this 5trte with refe~raos tory provisions’~of te the em- ,l*jrant l r persolulsl of the sherlff's'orsioe ubd ial1 statute dsali~~# exprrsslj~wlth thr emplby- to find a- meat of paQl.0 techa~cilns: Th8P8?6PO~ th8 principle of law rnnounced In Opinion No. U-6918 is appllaalle te your in UIPJ. Whdn the Legislature pPOvided in sub&vi- slon (b B of Article 3899 for the purchase of Padlo equip- ’ meat, it assistant int%?iQed it@ the sheriff, hia deputy, clerk, or

to assume the duties of Padlo technician and/op operator. Therefore, the compensation of thedeputy, OP clerk assigned the duties of padlo techni- assistant cian is covered by the provisions gevrrnlng the oompen* sation of otheP deputies; assistants ud clerks of tke county officers of &a&on Countg.z

&ace Wharton County has a populatioa of 36,- 158 inhabitante according to the 1946 Fe&era1 COPIW, aad an rseessa4 valuation 61 $56,326,3% aocording to’ the irst rp~qved tu rcbllr, the ceqeneatltin of the de-

utlea, rsristaata olepks of the county ofilcers L rten County is geverned by the followi~ statutory provisionsr

Article 3902, Section 2 Iwads aa followsa "'RIO Commlssltmers Court is hemby whoa ia their judgreat the ruthwised, SSumi'al oosd%tien l f the ommty U the Ree4.r OS tho 4oputsos,~urlstaRt% aRQ a&arks OS ray U&riot, ciunty ppecinct ju.rtSSy the laarease, to enter an’ effloer ec4er increasing the cempensation of such clerk in an addition- deputy, l esistart.or al ahunt not to exceed twenty-five (26) of the snr rllovod andsr the law f’e~ fiscal year of 1944, provide4 the total *3 Hon, Do~man IQakePa, page 3 QV-5581

compenaatlon authorized under the law for the fiaral year of 44 did not exceed Thfpty-afx Hundred 36oO;OO) Dollarcr,"

Thmefom, If the ohfef deput,y is assigned duties of radio teohniolan $2500.130 !$2,000 plus $5OOj, If some otI$~od;$O& his maxlmum aompenaatlon is

:.lrk op assistant is assigned t.he abltba 0

his maxc%mum compensatron is $212500 $ $1700 plus @l&5)-

SUM!4i@Y Bare a county has pWch@eed radio eqtipment for the shapfff’s office under the p~ovfs%ong of subdivision (b) of Arti- the sheriff, his ae- de 3899, v. 0. s., puty, OPeEk, or assistant must assume the duties of radio technician and/or opsra- t.#OP,

ATTOFS’EY GENERAL 0.F TEXAS APPROVRD:.