BILL ANALYSIS H.B. 2774 By: Smithee Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Interested parties observe that the base salary of a county judge is set by the county commissioners court and varies from county to county based on the county size and budget restrictions. The parties point out that a county judge is entitled to an annual salary supplement from the state, funded by certain court costs and fees, if at least 40 percent of the judge's duties are judicial functions. In a recent survey of certain county judges, a significant majority of respondents reported that they spend 40 percent or more of their time on judicial functions. The parties suggest that the salary supplement for a county judge should be linked to the annual salary of a district court judge to provide uniformity with other county-level supplements and salaries. H.B. 2774 seeks to provide for this link. CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS H.B. 2774 amends the Government Code to change the annual salary supplement from the state to which certain county judges are entitled from $15,000 to an amount equal to 25 percent of the amount appropriated for the annual salary of a district judge in the General Appropriations Act in accordance with statutory provisions governing judicial salaries. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2015.
BILL ANALYSIS
# BILL ANALYSIS
H.B. 2774
By: Smithee
Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence
Committee Report (Unamended)
H.B. 2774
By: Smithee
Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence
Committee Report (Unamended)
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Interested parties observe that the base salary of a county judge is set by the county commissioners court and varies from county to county based on the county size and budget restrictions. The parties point out that a county judge is entitled to an annual salary supplement from the state, funded by certain court costs and fees, if at least 40 percent of the judge's duties are judicial functions. In a recent survey of certain county judges, a significant majority of respondents reported that they spend 40 percent or more of their time on judicial functions. The parties suggest that the salary supplement for a county judge should be linked to the annual salary of a district court judge to provide uniformity with other county-level supplements and salaries. H.B. 2774 seeks to provide for this link.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS H.B. 2774 amends the Government Code to change the annual salary supplement from the state to which certain county judges are entitled from $15,000 to an amount equal to 25 percent of the amount appropriated for the annual salary of a district judge in the General Appropriations Act in accordance with statutory provisions governing judicial salaries.
EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2015.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Interested parties observe that the base salary of a county judge is set by the county commissioners court and varies from county to county based on the county size and budget restrictions. The parties point out that a county judge is entitled to an annual salary supplement from the state, funded by certain court costs and fees, if at least 40 percent of the judge's duties are judicial functions. In a recent survey of certain county judges, a significant majority of respondents reported that they spend 40 percent or more of their time on judicial functions. The parties suggest that the salary supplement for a county judge should be linked to the annual salary of a district court judge to provide uniformity with other county-level supplements and salaries. H.B. 2774 seeks to provide for this link.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS
H.B. 2774 amends the Government Code to change the annual salary supplement from the state to which certain county judges are entitled from $15,000 to an amount equal to 25 percent of the amount appropriated for the annual salary of a district judge in the General Appropriations Act in accordance with statutory provisions governing judicial salaries.
EFFECTIVE DATE
September 1, 2015.