SRC-HRD S.B. 310 75(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research CenterS.B. 310 By: Brown Finance 2-12-97 As Filed DIGEST Currently, according to the Commission on Judicial Efficiency, which was created by the 74th Legislature to evaluate the judicial system in Texas, members of the Texas judiciary are paid less than members of the judiciary in other populous states and the federal judiciary. This bill would set the salaries of Justices of the Supreme Court and Court of Criminal Appeals at $122,912. This is the salary of U.S. Magistrate Judges, the lowest paid federal judges. This bill also sets the salaries of justicies of the courts of appeals and the salaries of district judges. PURPOSE As proposed, S.B. 310 sets forth the salaries of justices of the supreme court and courts of appeals, as well as district court judges. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY 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, to provide that, notwithstanding Section 659.011, a justice of the supreme court is entitled to an annual salary from the state of $122,912. Provides that a justice of the court of appeals other than the chief justice is entitled to an annual salary from the state that is five percent less than the salary provided for a justice of the supreme court, rather than five percent less than the salary for a supreme court justice provided by the General Appropriations Act. Deletes text prohibiting the combined salary of a court of appeals justice from exceeding the amount that is $1,000 less than the salary provided for a supreme court justice. Deletes text prohibiting the combined salary of the chief justice of the court of appeals from exceeding the amount that is $500 less than the salary provided for a justice of the supreme court. Deletes text prohibiting the salary of a district judge from exceeding the amount that is $2,000 less than the salary provided for a justice of the supreme court. Deletes text requiring the comptroller to determine that the salary requirements provided by this section are maintained. Deletes text requiring the comptroller to reduce a state salary by the amount of the excess if a salary combined with a county supplement is in excess. Makes conforming and nonsubstantive changes. SECTION 2. Repealer: Chapter 31, Government Code (Additional Compensation of Justices of Courts of Appeal) and Chapter 32A, Government Code (Supplemental Salary Paid by County). SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 1997. SECTION 4. Emergency clause.