H.B. 858 78(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


H.B. 858
By: Goodman
Judicial Affairs
Committee Report (Unamended)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Under current law, judges of county courts at law and county criminal
courts in Tarrant County are paid a total annual salary that is fixed at
$1,000 less than the total annual salary of any district judge in the
county.  Other large counties in Texas, notably Dallas County and Harris
County, can pay their county court at law and county criminal court judges
an amount "not less than $1,000 less" than a district judge, giving these
counties some flexibility in paying these judges.  H.B. 858 would allow
Tarrant County judges to be paid in a similar manner to their counterparts
in Dallas and Harris counties.   


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. 

ANALYSIS

H.B. 858 amends the Government Code to provide that county court at law
judges and county criminal court judges in Tarrant County be paid an
annual salary in an amount that is not less than $1,000 less than the
total annual salary, including supplements and salary increases, paid any
district judge in the county.   

EFFECTIVE DATE

October 1, 2003.