BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 1222

By: Wray

Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

It has been noted that the additional compensation paid to the chief justice of a court of appeals, the presiding judge of the court of criminal appeals, and the chief justice of the Texas Supreme Court above the salary payable to another judge of the same court, as applicable, in recognition of the chief justices' and presiding judge's respective administrative responsibilities has not been increased for a number of years and may not adequately reflect the scope of those responsibilities. H.B. 1222 seeks to address this issue by increasing those additional amounts.

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

H.B. 1222 amends the Government Code to increase the state salary to which the chief justice or presiding judge of an appellate court is entitled from $2,500 more than the salary provided for the other justices or judges of the court to $5,000 more than that salary for the chief justice of a court of appeals and to $10,000 more than that salary for the chief justice of the supreme court or the presiding judge of the court of criminal appeals. The bill changes the cap on the combined salary of the chief justice of a court of appeals from an amount equal to $2,500 less than the salary provided for a supreme court justice to an amount equal to the salary provided for a supreme court justice.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2019.