BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 2723

By: Dean

County Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The 86th Legislature passed legislation that provided an increase in the compensation for members of the judiciary. However, constitutional county court judges were not included in the legislation. H.B. 2723 seeks to address this omission and include these judges as members of the judiciary for purposes of longevity pay by changing the amount of the annual salary supplement from the state to which a county judge is entitled with respect to the performance of judicial functions.

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. 2723 amends the Government Code to change the amount of the annual salary supplement from the state to which a county judge is entitled if at least 18 percent of the functions that the judge performs are judicial functions or if at least 18 percent of the total hours that the judge works are in the performance of judicial functions. Specifically, the bill changes that amount from an amount equal to 18 percent of the state base salary paid to a district judge as set by the General Appropriations Act to an amount equal to 18 percent of the annual salary paid to a district judge with comparable years of service as the county judge as set by the act. The bill applies only to a salary payment for a pay period beginning on or after the bill's effective date.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2023.