H.B. No. 3468
AN ACT
relating to the selection, duties, and compensation of a presiding
criminal judge in Travis County.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 25.2292(f), Government Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(f) The judge of a county court at law shall be paid an
annual salary that is at least equal to the salary paid district
judges from the general revenue fund of the state, but not more than
$1,000 less than the annual salary, including supplements, received
by district judges in the county. For purposes of determining the
annual salary of a judge of a county court at law under this
section, the total annual salary received by a district judge in the
county does not include compensation paid to the presiding criminal
judge of Travis County under Section 75.016.
SECTION 2. Section 25.2293, Government Code, is amended by
adding Subsection (m) to read as follows:
(m) For purposes of determining the annual salary of a judge
of a statutory probate court as provided by Section 25.0023, the
total annual salary received by a district judge in the county does
not include compensation paid to the presiding criminal judge of
Travis County under Section 75.016.
SECTION 3. Subchapter B, Chapter 75, Government Code, is
amended by adding Section 75.016 to read as follows:
Sec. 75.016. PRESIDING CRIMINAL JUDGE OF TRAVIS COUNTY.
(a) The judges of the Travis County district courts that give
preference to criminal cases shall elect from among those judges a
presiding criminal judge for the county for a two-year term
expiring September 30 of each odd-numbered year.
(b) The presiding criminal judge, with respect to the Travis
County district courts that give preference to criminal cases,
shall:
(1) preside at all meetings of the criminal judges,
except when absent, in which case any other of those judges may
preside;
(2) implement and execute the local district court
rules of administration for those courts, including assigning all
capital murder cases to the proper court on a rotating basis;
(3) appoint any special or standing committees
necessary or desirable for the administration of those courts;
(4) address administrative issues on an emergency
basis for the criminal courts, provided that the presiding criminal
judge's decisions regarding those issues may be reviewed at the
next meeting of the judges of those courts;
(5) supervise the budget and fiscal matters of the
criminal courts;
(6) monitor and serve as liaison regarding any
legislation amending the Penal Code or Code of Criminal Procedure
and any other legislation affecting the business of those courts;
and
(7) serve as a liaison to the commissioners court of
the county and appear before the commissioners court as necessary.
(c) The Commissioners Court of Travis County may set
additional compensation to be paid to the presiding criminal judge
by the county in any amount that does not exceed the amount the
local administrative district judge of Travis County receives from
this state. Notwithstanding any other law, compensation paid the
presiding criminal judge under this subsection is not included as
part of the judge's combined salary from state and county sources
for purposes of the salary limitations provided by Section 659.012.
SECTION 4. The judges of the Travis County district courts
that give preference to criminal cases shall elect the presiding
criminal judge as required by Section 75.016, Government Code, as
added by this Act, for a term beginning October 1, 2009.
SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 3468 was passed by the House on April
30, 2009, by the following vote: Yeas 144, Nays 0, 1 present, not
voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 3468 was passed by the Senate on May
26, 2009, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: _____________________
Date
_____________________
Governor