BILL ANALYSIS


                                                        S.B. 1248
                                                     By: Montford
                                                    Jurisprudence
                                                          4-27-95
                                     Committee Report (Unamended)
BACKGROUND

The salaries of the Texas judiciary typically lag behind that of
their counterparts in other states and in the federal government. 
For example, in 1994, the salary of a Texas supreme court justice
was $94,686, compared to $133,600 for a U.S. district court judge,
$120,000 for a New York supreme court justice, and $115,000 for a
New Jersey supreme court justice.  In at least 10 states in 1994,
the salary of a member of the state's highest court exceeded that
in Texas.  Salary levels may influence the state's ability to
attract and retain high quality judges.

PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 1248 sets forth minimum salaries for justices and
judges of the state supreme court or the court of criminal appeals.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not grant any
additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or
agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 659.012, Government Code, as follows:

     Sec. 659.012.  JUDICIAL SALARIES.  (a) Entitles justices or
     judges of the supreme court or the court of criminal appeals,
     other than the chief justice or presiding judge, to a salary
     that is at least equal to the amount that is 66.82145 percent
     of the annual salary received by a judge of a U.S. court of
     appeals.  Entitles the chief justice of the supreme court and
     the presiding judge of the court of criminal appeals to a
     salary that is 2.94024 percent more than the salary provided
     for the other justices and judges of the same court.  
     (b)-(e) Redesignate existing Subsections (a)-(d).
SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 1995.

SECTION 3. Emergency clause.