C.S.H.B. 1897 78(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


C.S.H.B. 1897
By: Nixon
Judicial Affairs
Committee Report (Substituted)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Harris County is currently having difficulty retaining top judicial
talent.  One of the main reasons for this is financial.  The gap between
judicial salaries and those of private practice has grown much larger over
the past few years.  In addition, Harris County's population growth has
made it much more expensive in terms of cost of living, while there have
been no salary increases for judges in over five years.   

District judges in Harris County are paid from two sources:  a base salary
from the state and a supplemental salary from the county.  This
supplemental salary is currently limited to $9,300. C.S.H.B. 1897 lifts
this statutory cap to allow Harris County to pay its judges a supplemental
amount set by the commissioner's court. 

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

C.S.H.B. 1987 amends the Government Code to provide that notwithstanding
Section 659.012 of the Government Code, the Commissioners Court of Harris
County may budget for and pay the judges of the district courts having
jurisdiction in that county an annual salary in an amount set by the
commissioners court for judicial and administrative services.   

The bill also raises the maximum supplemental salary to $30,000.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2003.


COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE

The substitute raises the maximum supplemental salary to $30,000.  The
substitute also changes a reference in the bill's caption from "district
judges" to "certain judges."