BILL ANALYSIS
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Currently, the state pays a $35,000 supplement to each statutory county court at law judge. C.S.S.B. 600 increases the compensation for statutory county court judges to an amount that is not less than $1,000 less than a district court judge and requires that the state pay 60 percent of that salary.
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
SECTION 1. Amends Sections 25.0005(a) and (b), Government Code, as follows:
(a) Requires a statutory county court judge, other than one who engages in the private practice of law, to be paid a total annual salary set by the commissioners court at an amount that is not less than $1,000 less than the total annual salary received by a district judge in the county. Deletes existing text relating to a judge whose court fees and costs are not collected. Makes a non-substantive change.
(b) Makes a conforming change.
SECTION 2. Amends Section 25.0015(a), Government Code, to require the state, beginning on the first day of the state fiscal year, to annually compensate each county in an amount equal to 60 percent of the state salary of a district court judge in the county, rather than $35,000, for each statutory county court judge who does not engage in the private practice of law and presides over a court with certain jurisdiction. Deletes existing text relating to certain exceptions. Makes conforming changes.
SECTION 3. Amends Section 133.105(a), Local Government Code, to require a person convicted of any offense, other than an offense relating to a pedestrian or the parking of a motor vehicle, to pay as a court cost, in addition to all other costs, a fee of six, rather than four, dollars.
SECTION 4. Amends Section 133.154(a), Local Government Code, to increase from $37 to $42 the amount certain court clerks are required to collect as a fee on the filing of an civil suit.
SECTION 5. Amends Section 25.0292(f), Government Code, to make conforming changes relating to the salary of certain judges in Burnet County.
SECTION 6. Amends the heading to Section 51.702, Government Code, to read as follows:
Sec. 51.702. ADDITIONAL FEES AND COSTS IN STATUTORY COUNTY COURTS.
SECTION 7. Amends Section 51.702(a), Government Code, as follows:
(a) Requires the clerk of a statutory county court to collect a $40 fee for each civil case filed in the court to be used for court-related purposes for the support of the judiciary. Deletes existing text relating to additional fees authorized or required by law.
SECTION 8. Amends Section 101.062, Government Code, to make a conforming change.
SECTION 9. Amends Section 101.081(7)(A), Government Code, by deleting existing text that requires that the assessment of an additional filing fee for each civil case to be used for the support of the judiciary by approved by the county commissioners court.
SECTION 10. Amends Section 101.083, Government Code, to make a conforming change.
SECTION 11. Amends Section 101.123, Government Code, to make a conforming change.
SECTION 12. Amends Section 102.022, Government Code, to make a conforming change.
SECTION 13. Repealer: Sections 25.0005(e), (f), and (g) (relating to the salaries of judges of statutory county courts of law), Government Code.
Repealer: Sections 25.0015(b) and (c) (relating to amounts paid into the county's salary fund), Government Code.
Repealer: Section 25.0016 (Excess Contributions), Government Code.
Repealer: Section 25.0362(e) (relating to the collection of fees by the clerk of a county court at law), Government Code.
Repealer: Sections 51.702(f), (g), (h), (i), (j), (k), (l), and (m) (relating to fees and costs in certain statutory courts), Government Code.
SECTION 14. Makes application of this Act prospective.
EFFECTIVE DATE
October 1, 2007