PMWJ H.B. 1974 75(R)BILL ANALYSIS JUDICIAL AFFAIRS H.B. 1974 By: McCall/Madden/Denny 4-16-97 Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND Supplemental pay for judges in Collin County is for duties performed outside of typical judicial functions. The support and administrative functions involved jointly in the Juvenile Board, Criminal Justice Policy Committee, Bail Bond Board, and the Purchasing Board on behalf of Collin County is significant to the functioning of the County and deserves appropriate additional compensation. PURPOSE HB 1974 outlines the terms of supplemental pay for district judges and validates prior acts of the Commissioners Court in Collin County. Such compensation would not exceed established maximums and would be paid from the Collin County general fund. The amount of the supplement would be established annually by the Commissioners Court along with the salaries of other elected officials at budget time. A section is now reserved for Collin County in the statute and it allows Collin County to support the district judges in their efforts to deliver services to the citizens of Collin County, in addition to their state district judge duties. 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. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1 adds new Section 32.043 to Subchapter A, Chapter 32 of the Government Code. New Subsec. (a) authorizes the Commissioners Court to set and budget an annual salary of the district judges whose jurisdiction is within Collin County for services rendered and for performing administrative services. New Subsec. (b) provides that the district judges will be paid from the general fund in equal biweekly or monthly installments. New Subsec. (c) provides that this salary is in addition to that paid by the state or other authorized compensation. New Subsec. (d). The district judges yearly combined salary may not exceed $1,000 less than the highest combined yearly salary from state and county entities received by a justice of the court of appeals in the court of appeals district in which Collin County is located. SECTION 2 validates certain prior acts by the Commissioners Court.