HBA-JLV H.B. 2814 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2814
By: Hartnett
Judicial Affairs
7/2/2001
Enrolled



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Prior to the 77th Legislature, state law required the commissioners court
to set the annual salary of each judge of a statutory probate court in any
county having a population of 700,000 or more.  However, some regarded the
population references as unnecessary because all statutory probate court
judges were subject to the current general provisions regarding salary.
House Bill 2814 requires the commissioners court of each county in which a
statutory probate court sits to compensate its statutory probate court
judges in an amount that is at least equal to the salary of a district
judge and also repeals certain duplicate provisions in the Government Code. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 2814 amends the Government Code to remove the restriction that
prevents a commissioners court of a county with a population of less than
700,000 in which a statutory probate court sits from compensating statutory
probate court judges in an amount that is at least equal to the total
annual salary received by a district judge in the county.  The bill
provides that a district judge's or statutory probate court judge's total
annual salary includes contributions and supplements paid by the state or a
county.  The bill also repeals duplicate provisions in the Government Code. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.