HBA-BSM S.B. 960 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisS.B. 960
By: Brown, J. E. "Buster"
Judicial Affairs
4/19/2001
Engrossed



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, Texas law sets caps on the amount of compensation county
commissioners courts can pay 
appellate justices and district judges. Over the past few years, Texas has
experienced enormous economic growth in the legal services market.
However, while attorney compensation packages have increased, judicial
salaries have remained relatively static. Consequently, the difference
between judicial and private sector compensation has widened. This
difference in compensation is a possible obstacle to recruiting and
retaining judicial talent.  Texas judicial salaries also fall behind the
compensation scales of other states. Senate Bill 960 removes the
state-imposed salary caps and gives county commissioners courts the option
to supplement state pay for the 14 courts of appeal justices and for
district court judges. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

ANALYSIS

Senate Bill 960 amends the Government Code to authorize the commissioners
courts in the counties of each of the 14 courts of appeals districts to pay
an annual salary rather than an amount not to exceed $15,000 a year to each
of the justices in those courts.  The bill authorizes the commissioners
court of a county rather than Anderson County to pay an annual salary to
each of the judges of the district courts having jurisdiction in the
county.  The bill requires the authorized  salary to be paid in monthly
installments from the county general fund or another available fund of the
county.  The bill also deletes provisions regarding the stateimposed
judicial salary caps.  

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.