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Committee tightens judge-salary language and approves stepped fee increases to shore up judicial operations fund
Summary
Committee adopted a committee substitute on House Bill 1752 clarifying that judicial pay raises require specific legislative appropriation, instituting a four-year SPB reporting cycle, and approving stepped filing-fee increases (40→60→80 sequence described) to address a reported $15 million shortfall in the judicial operations fund.
Chair presented a committee substitute for House Bill 1752 that clarifies judicial salary procedures, mandates that the State Personnel Board (SPB) provide recommended compensation levels to the Administrative Office of Courts (AOC) no more than once every four years, and tightens language so raises cannot occur without a specific legislative line-item appropriation. "Raises cannot occur without legislative approval," the Chair said, describing a four-year review cycle for SPB reports.
The substitute also raises several filing fees in stepped increases (described in committee as 40, then +20, then +20 to reach 80 in the later step for certain fees) to help cover an automatic fiscal shortfall the chair said amounted to an estimated $15,000,000. Members asked for clarifying language to make the stair-step increases explicit, and the committee adopted conforming amendments; the strike-all was carried by voice vote and the measure will go to appropriations.
