79R6514 QS-D

By:  Nixon                                                        H.B. No. 1617



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the supplemental compensation of district judges and 
justices of the courts of appeals.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 31.001, Government Code, is amended to 
read as follows:  
	Sec. 31.001.  AUTHORITY FOR COUNTY PAYMENT OF COMPENSATION.  
The commissioners courts in the counties of each of the 14 courts of 
appeals districts may pay [an amount not to exceed $15,000 a year 
to] each of the justices of the courts of appeals residing within 
the court of appeals district that includes those counties an 
annual salary[.  The payment is] for all judicial and 
administrative services performed by the justices.
	SECTION 2.  The heading to Subchapter B, Chapter 32, 
Government Code, is amended to read as follows:

SUBCHAPTER B.  GENERAL [MISCELLANEOUS] PROVISIONS
	SECTION 3.  Subchapter B, Chapter 32, Government Code, is 
amended by adding Section 32.301 to read as follows:
	Sec. 32.301.  SUPPLEMENTAL SALARY.  (a)  The commissioners 
court of each 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.
	(b)  The salary shall be paid in equal monthly installments 
from the county general fund or officers' salary fund.
	(c)  The salary is in addition to the salary paid by the 
state.       
	SECTION 4.  Section 659.012(a), Government Code, is amended 
to read as follows:
	(a)  Notwithstanding Section 659.011:                                          
		(1)  a justice of the supreme court is entitled to an 
annual salary from the state that is at least $102,463;
		(2)  a justice of a 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 by the General 
Appropriations Act for a justice of the supreme court[, except that 
the combined salary of a justice of the court of appeals other than 
the chief justice from all state and county sources may not exceed 
the amount that is $1,000 less than the salary provided for a 
justice of the supreme court];
		(3)  the chief justice of a court of appeals is entitled 
to an annual salary from the state that is $2,500 more than the 
salary provided for the other justices of the court of appeals[, 
except that the combined salary of the chief justice of a court of 
appeals may not exceed the amount that is $500 less than the salary 
provided for a justice of the supreme court]; and
		(4)  a judge of a district court is entitled to an 
annual salary from the state that is 10 percent less than the salary 
provided in the General Appropriations Act for a justice of the 
supreme court[, except that unless otherwise provided by law, the 
combined salary of a district judge from state and county sources 
may not exceed the amount that is $2,000 less than the salary 
provided for a justice of the supreme court].
	SECTION 5.  The following are repealed:                                        
		(1)  the following provisions of the Government Code:                         
			(A)  Sections 31.003 and 659.012(b) and (e); and                             
			(B)  Subchapter A, Chapter 32;                                               
		(2)  Section 4, Chapter 62, Acts of the 78th 
Legislature, Regular Session, 2003;
		(3)  Section 2, Chapter 100, Acts of the 78th 
Legislature, Regular Session, 2003; and
		(4)  Sections 2 and 4, Chapter 675, Acts of the 78th 
Legislature, Regular Session, 2003.
	SECTION 6.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2005.