BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 1025

By: Seliger

Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties observe that the base salary of a county judge is set by the county commissioners court and varies from county to county based on the county size and budget restrictions. The parties point out that a county judge is entitled to an annual salary supplement from the state, funded by certain court costs and fees, if at least 40 percent of the judge's duties are judicial functions. In a recent survey of certain county judges, a significant majority of respondents reported that they spend 40 percent or more of their time on judicial functions. The parties suggest that the salary supplement for a county judge should be linked to the annual salary of a district court judge to provide uniformity with other county-level supplements and salaries. S.B. 1025 seeks to provide for this link.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

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

S.B. 1025 amends the Government Code to change the annual salary supplement from the state to which certain county judges are entitled from $15,000 to an amount equal to 18 percent of the annual compensation provided for a district judge in the General Appropriations Act.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2015.