BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	S.B. 1394
	By: Hughes
	State Affairs
	4/25/2017
	As Filed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

S.B. 1394 changes the longevity pay structure that state judges currently receive. Currently, a state district judge or appellate judge is entitled to receive longevity pay after they reach 16 years on the state bench. Per the recommendation of the Judicial Compensation Commission, S.B. 1394 would make state judges eligible for longevity pay after two years of service, just like current state employees. Longevity pay would be equal to 0.2 percent of their monthly salary for every year of service.

As proposed, S.B. 1394 amends current law relating to the calculation of longevity pay for state judges and justices.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 659.0445(b), Government Code, as follows:

(b) Provides that the monthly amount of longevity pay under this section to which a judge or justice described by Subsection (a) (relating to entitlement of longevity pay to a judge or justice) is entitled:

(1) is equal to the product of .2 percent, rather than .031 multiplied by the amount, of the judge's or justice's current monthly state salary multiplied by the number of years of service credited to the judge or justice in the applicable retirement system; and

(2) becomes payable beginning with the month following the month in which the judge or justice completes two, rather than 16, years of service for which credit is established in the applicable retirement system.

SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2017.