(a) If the commissioners court establishes a program under this subchapter, the court shall authorize county employees to enter into voluntary agreements with the county to reduce the periodic compensation paid the employees by the county by amounts to be used to finance benefit options provided under the program. An authorization under this section must be made available to all employees of the county.
(b) Amounts by which a county employee’s compensation is reduced under an agreement under this section are excluded from the computation of contributions and other payments governed by federal law to the extent authorized by federal law, including withholding payments for federal income taxes and contributions to the federal old age and survivors insurance program, but are not excluded in the computation of contributions to and benefits from the Texas County and District Retirement System and other retirement programs governed by state law.