BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 2310

By: Hinojosa

Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

When the 86th Texas Legislature passed H.B. 2384 in 2019, it adopted a tiered system of compensation for district judges and felony prosecutors based on longevity. During the bill's journey through the legislative process, a proposed third tier at 12 years of service was abandoned. However, the judge's longevity increase of 3.1 percent at 16 years was adjusted to five percent at 12 years. This represents an $8,500 salary increase in year 12. Felony prosecutors are seeking parity with judges by inclusion in the 12-year longevity provision. S.B. 2310 seeks to restore parity between elected felony prosecutors and judges by providing a new third salary tier for certain prosecutors with more than 12 years in office, similar to the arrangement judges received when the current salary structure was enacted in 2019.

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

S.B. 2310 amends the Government Code to entitle a district attorney, criminal district attorney, state prosecuting attorney, and each state prosecutor to receive a monthly amount of longevity pay based on the attorney's years of service that would be paid to the attorney if the attorney were an active judge or justice that is a member of the Judicial Retirement System of Texas Plan One or the Judicial Retirement System of Texas Plan Two. The bill applies beginning with the first pay period that begins on or after the bill's effective date.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2023.