89R4934 AMF-D     By: Sparks S.B. No. 717       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the additional compensation certain counties pay to   judges and justices for extrajudicial services.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Chapter 25A, Government Code, is amended by   adding Section 25A.0115 to read as follows:          Sec. 25A.0115.  AUTHORITY FOR ADDITIONAL COMPENSATION. (a)   The commissioners court of a county may pay the judges of the   business court having jurisdiction in the county additional   compensation in an amount not to exceed the limitations provided in   Section 659.012 for extrajudicial services performed by the   business court judges.          (b)  The county shall pay the compensation from the county   general fund or other available county funds in:                (1)  monthly installments; or                (2)  biweekly installments if authorized by the   commissioners court.          (c)  The compensation is in addition to the salary paid by   this state and any other compensation authorized by law.          SECTION 2.  Section 31.001, Government Code, is amended to   read as follows:          Sec. 31.001.  AUTHORITY FOR COUNTY PAYMENT OF COMPENSATION.   The commissioners courts in the counties of each of the 15 courts of   appeals districts may pay additional compensation in an amount that   does not exceed the limitations of Section 659.012 to each of the   justices of the courts of appeals[, other than a justice of the   Court of Appeals of the Fifteenth Court of Appeals District,]   residing within the court of appeals district that includes those   counties. The compensation is for all extrajudicial services   performed by the justices.          SECTION 3.  Section 659.012(a), Government Code, is amended   to read as follows:          (a)  Notwithstanding Section 659.011 and subject to   Subsections (b) and (b-1):                (1)  a judge of a district court or a division of the   business court is entitled to an annual base salary from the state   as set by the General Appropriations Act in an amount equal to at   least $140,000, except that the combined base salary of a district   judge or judge of a division of the business court from all state   and county sources, including compensation for any extrajudicial   services performed on behalf of the county, may not exceed the   amount that is $5,000 less than the maximum combined base salary   from all state and county sources for a justice of a court of   appeals other than a chief justice as determined under this   subsection;                (2)  [except as provided by Subdivision (3),] a justice   of a court of appeals other than the chief justice is entitled to an   annual base salary from the state in the amount equal to 110 percent   of the state base salary of a district judge as set by the General   Appropriations Act, except that the combined base salary of a   justice of the court of appeals other than the chief justice from   all state and county sources, including compensation for any   extrajudicial services performed on behalf of the county, may not   exceed the amount that is $13,000 more [$5,000 less] than the base   salary for a justice of the supreme court as determined under this   subsection;                (3)  [a justice of the Court of Appeals for the   Fifteenth Court of Appeals District other than the chief justice is   entitled to an annual base salary from the state in the amount equal   to $5,000 less than 120 percent of the state base salary of a   district judge as set by the General Appropriations Act;                [(4)]  a justice of the supreme court other than the   chief justice or a judge of the court of criminal appeals other than   the presiding judge is entitled to an annual base salary from the   state in the amount equal to 120 percent of the state base salary of   a district judge as set by the General Appropriations Act; and                (4) [(5)]  the chief justice or presiding judge of an   appellate court is entitled to an annual base salary from the state   in the amount equal to $2,500 more than the state base salary   provided for the other justices or judges of the court, except that   the combined base salary of the chief justice of a court of appeals   from all state and county sources may not exceed the amount equal to   $15,500 more [$2,500 less] than the base salary for a justice of the   supreme court as determined under this subsection.          SECTION 4.  The changes in law made by this Act apply   beginning with the state fiscal biennium beginning September 1,   2025.          SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.