Enrolled Bill Summary

            Senate Bill 71 amends the Government Code to create the Judicial Compensation Commission to make salary recommendations for justices and judges of the supreme court, the court of criminal appeals, the courts of appeals, and the district courts. The act establishes the membership, terms, qualifications, and powers and duties of the nine-member commission, which is appointed by the governor with consent from the senate, and lists the factors the commission must consider in making salary recommendations. It requires the commission to submit a biennial report of its recommendations to the legislature not later than December 1 of each even-numbered year. The recommendations are binding and have the full force of law on September 1 if neither the senate nor the house of representatives, by a majority vote, rejects the recommendations before the enactment of the General Appropriations Act for the subsequent biennium. The act takes effect on voter approval of Senate Joint Resolution 10.