81R19303 KLA-D
 
  By: Naishtat H.B. No. 3468
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the selection, duties, and compensation of a presiding
  criminal judge in Travis County.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 25.2292(f), Government Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (f)  The judge of a county court at law shall be paid an
  annual salary that is at least equal to the salary paid district
  judges from the general revenue fund of the state, but not more than
  $1,000 less than the annual salary, including supplements, received
  by district judges in the county. For purposes of determining the
  annual salary of a judge of a county court at law under this
  section, the total annual salary received by a district judge in the
  county does not include compensation paid to the presiding criminal
  judge of Travis County under Section 75.016.
         SECTION 2.  Section 25.2293, Government Code, is amended by
  adding Subsection (m) to read as follows:
         (m)  For purposes of determining the annual salary of a judge
  of a statutory probate court as provided by Section 25.0023, the
  total annual salary received by a district judge in the county does
  not include compensation paid to the presiding criminal judge of
  Travis County under Section 75.016.
         SECTION 3.  Subchapter B, Chapter 75, Government Code, is
  amended by adding Section 75.016 to read as follows:
         Sec. 75.016.  PRESIDING CRIMINAL JUDGE OF TRAVIS COUNTY.
  (a) The judges of the Travis County district courts that give
  preference to criminal cases shall elect from among those judges a
  presiding criminal judge for the county for a two-year term
  expiring September 30 of each odd-numbered year.
         (b)  The presiding criminal judge, with respect to the Travis
  County district courts that give preference to criminal cases,
  shall:
               (1)  preside at all meetings of the criminal judges,
  except when absent, in which case any other of those judges may
  preside;
               (2)  implement and execute the local district court
  rules of administration for those courts, including assigning all
  capital murder cases to the proper court on a rotating basis;
               (3)  appoint any special or standing committees
  necessary or desirable for the administration of those courts;
               (4)  address administrative issues on an emergency
  basis for the criminal courts, provided that the presiding criminal
  judge's decisions regarding those issues may be reviewed at the
  next meeting of the judges of those courts;
               (5)  supervise the budget and fiscal matters of the
  criminal courts;
               (6)  monitor and serve as liaison regarding any
  legislation amending the Penal Code or Code of Criminal Procedure
  and any other legislation affecting the business of those courts;
  and
               (7)  serve as a liaison to the commissioners court of
  the county and appear before the commissioners court as necessary.
         (c)  The Commissioners Court of Travis County may set
  additional compensation to be paid to the presiding criminal judge
  by the county in any amount that does not exceed the amount the
  local administrative district judge of Travis County receives from
  this state. Notwithstanding any other law, compensation paid the
  presiding criminal judge under this subsection is not included as
  part of the judge's combined salary from state and county sources
  for purposes of the salary limitations provided by Section 659.012.
         SECTION 4.  The judges of the Travis County district courts
  that give preference to criminal cases shall elect the presiding
  criminal judge as required by Section 75.016, Government Code, as
  added by this Act, for a term beginning October 1, 2009.
         SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.