BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

 

C.S.H.B. 3568

By: Farrar

Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence

Committee Report (Substituted)

 

 

 

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

 

Concerns have been raised that disproportionate salary increases in recent years among counties across the state have contributed to a shortage of court reporters in other counties, and there are concerns that such shortages may have potential consequences for the accuracy and efficiency of court proceedings. C.S.H.B. 3568 seeks to address these concerns by allowing the commissioners court of a county with a certain population to approve an increase in salary for the official district court reporter.

 

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

 

C.S.H.B. 3568 amends the Government Code to prohibit the official district court reporter who serves in a county with a population of 3.5 million or more from receiving a percentage increase in salary in a fiscal year that is greater than the average percentage increase in compensation in that fiscal year to all other employees of that county, unless approved by the county commissioners court.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE

 

September 1, 2019.

 

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

 

C.S.H.B. 3568 differs from the original in minor or nonsubstantive ways by conforming to certain bill drafting conventions.