BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

                                                                                                                                    C.S.H.B. 3135

                                                                                                                                         By: Hughes

                                                                                                                                              Judiciary

                                                                                                        Committee Report (Substituted)

 

 

 

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

 

Visiting judges make an important contribution to the judicial system. The purpose of this bill is to adjust the compensation of visiting judges.

 

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

 

The bill would amend Section 74.061, Government Code, to provide that a visiting judge salary is determined pro rata on the sum of the regular judge's salary from the county plus the greater of (i) that judge's state salary as of August 31, 2007, where the reference date under current law is August 31, 1997, and (ii) 100% of the regular judge's state salary in any future year, where current law provides a range of 85% to 100%.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE

 

September 1, 2007.

 

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE

 

The substitute makes no substantive changes, but rather places the original draft in Legislative Council format and deletes unnecessary verbiage. Section 2 regarding prospective application is new in the substitute.