Texas House Bill HB2734

Texas 2023 - 88th Regular

• Filed: 2/23/23

Caption

Relating to the service credit used in calculating longevity pay for certain judges and prosecutors.

Impact

If HB 2734 is enacted, it will significantly impact the compensation framework for judges and prosecutors by allowing them to include prior service as county or district attorneys when determining their longevity pay. Such changes promote fair recognition of experience for those transitioning between judicial roles and may help attract talent to judicial positions by ensuring that prior experience is adequately compensated.

Summary

House Bill 2734, introduced by Chairman Murr, aims to amend the Government Code to provide longevity pay calculation benefits to certain judges and prosecutors in Texas. The bill seeks to expand the recognition of service credit to include time served as county attorneys or district attorneys when one runs for a judge position. This amendment follows the 2019 passage of House Bill 2384, which established longevity tiers for judges and prosecutors but did not initially include this group of attorneys for crediting purposes.

Sentiment

The sentiment around HB 2734 appears to be generally supportive among those within the judicial and prosecutorial community. Representatives from the Texas District and County Attorneys Association have explicitly supported the bill, arguing that it is a straightforward and necessary adjustment for fair compensation. Testimonies presented highlight the bill's intention of creating a more equitable system for compensating judicial officers who bring a wealth of experience from prosecutorial roles.

Contention

Notable contention may arise regarding the funding implications of such changes to the longevity pay structure. While the bill is framed positively by its supporters, concerns could surface surrounding budget constraints at the county level due to increased salary obligations and how this might affect local government finances. Nevertheless, the primary focus appears to be on fair treatment of public servants transitioning to judicial roles.

Texas Constitutional Statutes Affected

Government Code

• Chapter 25. Statutory County Courts
  • Section: 0005
  • Section: 0023
  • Section: 2607

• Chapter 41. General Provisions
  • Section: 013

• Chapter 46. Professional Prosecutors
  • Section: New Section