HBA-BSM H.B. 3296 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 3296
By: Goodman
Judicial Affairs
7/25/2001
Enrolled



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Prior to the 77th Legislature, if a retired judge or justice sat as a
visiting judge, the retired judge's salary, compensation, and expenses were
paid out of money appropriated  from the general revenue fund for that
purpose in an amount equal to the compensation received from state and
county sources.  However, if a retired statutory county court judge served
in the same capacity,  the judge was not compensated in the same manner.
This  may have precluded  retired statutory county court judges from
sitting as visiting judges.  House Bill 3296 requires the salary of a
retired statutory county court judge assigned to serve as a visiting judge
in a district or statutory county court to be paid by the state in the same
manner as the salary of  a retired district court  judge  assigned to serve
as a visiting judge in a district or statutory county court. 

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 3296 amends the Government Code to require the salary of a
retired statutory county court judge assigned to serve as a visiting judge
in a district court or statutory county court to be paid by the state in
the same manner as the salary of a retired district judge assigned to serve
as a visiting judge in a district court or statutory county court is paid
by the state.   

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.