|   | 
      
      
        |   | 
      
      
        |   | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          AN ACT
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        relating to judicial compensation and assignment, the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        contributions to, benefits from, membership in, and administration  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        of the Judicial Retirement System of Texas Plan One and Plan Two,  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        and the compensation and retirement benefits of certain prosecutors  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        and other members of the elected class of the Employees Retirement  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        System of Texas. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               SECTION 1.  Section 201.105(a), Family Code, is amended to  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        read as follows: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (a)  An associate judge appointed under this subchapter is  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        entitled to a salary in the amount equal to [be determined by a 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          majority vote of the presiding judges of the administrative 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          judicial regions.  The salary may not exceed] 90 percent of the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        state base salary paid to a district judge as set by the General  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Appropriations Act in accordance with Section 659.012(a),  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Government Code. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               SECTION 2.  Section 201.205(a), Family Code, is amended to  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        read as follows: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (a)  An associate judge appointed under this subchapter is  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        entitled to a salary in the amount equal to [as determined by a 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          majority vote of the presiding judges of the administrative 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          judicial regions.  The salary may not exceed] 90 percent of the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        state base salary paid to a district judge as set by the [state]  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        General Appropriations Act in accordance with Section 659.012(a),  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Government Code. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               SECTION 3.  Section 25.0005, Government Code, is amended by  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsections (a-1) and (a-2) to  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        read as follows: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (a)  A statutory county court judge, other than a statutory  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        county court judge who engages in the private practice of law, shall  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        be paid a total annual salary set by the commissioners court at an  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        amount that is not less than $1,000 less than the sum of the [total]  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        annual salary as set by the General Appropriations Act in  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        accordance with Section 659.012 paid to [received by] a district  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        judge with comparable years of service as the statutory county  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        court judge and any state or county [in the county.  A district 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          judge's or statutory county court judge's total annual salary 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          includes] contributions and supplements paid to a district judge in  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        the county, [paid by the state or a county,] other than  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        contributions received as compensation under Section 74.051.  A  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        statutory county court judge's total annual salary includes any  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        state or county contributions and supplements paid to the judge.   | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        For purposes of this subsection, the years of service of a statutory  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        county court judge include any years of service as an appellate  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        court, district court, multicounty statutory county court, or  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        statutory probate court justice or judge. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (a-1)  The minimum salary prescribed by Subsection (a) that  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        is to be based on the annual salary of a district judge under  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Section 659.012(b) becomes effective on the first day of the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        county's fiscal year following the date the statutory county court  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        judge accrues the years of service required for an increase in  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        salary under Subsection (a). | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (a-2)  Notwithstanding Subsection (a), the maximum annual  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        salary of a statutory county court judge is $1,000 less than the sum  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        of the maximum combined annual salary from all state and county  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        sources paid to a district judge entitled to a salary under Section  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        659.012(b)(2) and any longevity pay received by a district judge in  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        accordance with Section 659.0445(d). | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               SECTION 4.  Section 25.0015, Government Code, is amended to  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        read as follows: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 25.0015.  STATE CONTRIBUTION.  [(a)]  Beginning on the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        first day of the state fiscal year, the state shall annually  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        compensate each county in an amount equal to 60 percent of the state  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        base salary paid to [of] a district [court] judge as set by the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        General Appropriations Act in accordance with Section 659.012(a)  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        [in the county] for each statutory county court judge in the county  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        who: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (1)  does not engage in the private practice of law; and | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (2)  presides over a court with at least the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        jurisdiction provided by Section 25.0003. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               SECTION 5.  Section 25.0023, Government Code, is amended by  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsections (a-1) and (a-2) to  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        read as follows: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (a)  The commissioners court shall set the total annual  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        salary of each judge of a statutory probate court at an amount that  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        is at least equal to the sum of the [total] annual salary as set by  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        the General Appropriations Act in accordance with Section 659.012  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        paid to [received by] a district judge with comparable years of  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        service as the statutory probate court judge and any state or county  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        [in the county.  A district judge's or statutory probate court 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          judge's total annual salary includes] contributions and  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        supplements paid to a district judge in the county [by the state or 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          a county], other than contributions received as compensation under  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Section 74.051 [25.0022(e)].  A statutory probate court judge's  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        total annual salary includes any state or county contributions and  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        supplements paid to the judge, other than contributions paid under  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Section 25.0022(e).  For purposes of this subsection, the years of  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        service of a statutory probate court judge include any years of  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        service as an appellate court, district court, multicounty  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        statutory county court, or statutory county court justice or judge. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (a-1)  The minimum salary prescribed by Subsection (a) that  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        is to be based on the annual salary of a district judge under  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Section 659.012(b) becomes effective on the first day of the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        county's fiscal year following the date the judge accrues the years  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        of service required for an increase in salary under Subsection (a). | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (a-2)  Notwithstanding Subsection (a), the maximum annual  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        salary of a statutory probate court judge is $1,000 less than the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        sum of the maximum combined annual salary from all state and county  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        sources paid to a district judge entitled to a salary under Section  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        659.012(b)(2) and any longevity pay received by a district judge in  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        accordance with Section 659.0445(d). | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               SECTION 6.  Section 25.2607(d), Government Code, is amended  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        to read as follows: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (d)  Notwithstanding Section 25.0015, the state shall  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        annually compensate the administrative county of a multicounty  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        statutory county court for the salary of the judge of the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        multicounty statutory county court in an amount equal to 100  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        percent of the state base salary paid to [of] a district [court]  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        judge as set by the General Appropriations Act in accordance with  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Section 659.012(a) [in the county for the salary of the judge of the 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          multicounty statutory county court]. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               SECTION 7.  Section 26.006(a), Government Code, is amended  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        to read as follows: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (a)  A county judge is entitled to an annual salary  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        supplement from the state in an amount equal to 18 percent of the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        state base salary paid to [annual compensation provided for] a  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        district judge as set by [in] the General Appropriations Act in  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        accordance with Section 659.012(a) if at least 40 percent of the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        functions that the judge performs are judicial functions. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               SECTION 8.  Section 41.013, Government Code, is amended to  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        read as follows: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 41.013.  COMPENSATION OF CERTAIN PROSECUTORS.  Except  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        as otherwise provided by law, a district attorney or criminal  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        district attorney is entitled to receive from the state annual  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        compensation in an amount equal to at least 80 percent of the state  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        annual salary as set by [compensation provided for a district judge 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          in] the General Appropriations Act in accordance with Section  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        659.012 paid to a district judge with comparable years of service as  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        the district attorney or criminal district attorney. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               SECTION 9.  Section 46.001(2), Government Code, is amended  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        to read as follows: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (2)  "Benchmark salary" means the state annual salary  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        as set by [that is provided for a district judge in] the General  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Appropriations Act in accordance with Section 659.012 paid to a  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        district judge with comparable years of service as the county  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        prosecutor. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               SECTION 10.  Section 46.003, Government Code, is amended by  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsections (c) and (d) to read  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        as follows: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (a)  The state prosecuting attorney and each state  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        prosecutor is entitled to receive from the state a salary in an  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        amount [compensation] equal to the state annual salary as set by  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        [compensation that is provided for a district judge in] the General  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Appropriations Act in accordance with Section 659.012 paid to a  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        district judge with comparable years of service as the state  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        prosecuting attorney or state prosecutor. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (c)  Notwithstanding Subsection (a), if the amount of a state  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        prosecutor's total annual salary from state and county sources  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        exceeds the amount of the maximum combined base salary from all  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        state and county sources provided by Section 659.012 for a district  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        judge with comparable years of service as the state prosecutor, the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        comptroller shall reduce the state prosecutor's state annual salary  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        by the amount equal to the excess amount, except that the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        comptroller may not reduce the state prosecutor's state annual  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        salary to an amount that is less than the state base salary paid to a  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        district judge as set by the General Appropriations Act in  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        accordance with Section 659.012(a). | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (d)  The comptroller shall calculate the amount of the state  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        annual salary to be paid to a state prosecutor under this section  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        for a state fiscal year based on sworn statements the state  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        prosecutor files annually with the comptroller at the time and in  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        the manner the comptroller requires that specify the amount of  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        county compensation to be paid to the state prosecutor for that  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        year. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               SECTION 11.  Section 46.0031(d), Government Code, is amended  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        to read as follows: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (d)  At least annually the comptroller shall pay to the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        salary fund of each county that is entitled to receive funds under  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        this section an amount authorized under this section to supplement  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        the salary of the county prosecutor.  For purposes of calculating  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        that amount, the comptroller shall use the benchmark salary  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        applicable to the county prosecutor on September 1 of the state  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        fiscal year in which the payment is made. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               SECTION 12.  Section 54.653(b), Government Code, is amended  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        to read as follows: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (b)  The salary of a full-time magistrate may not exceed an  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        amount equal to 90 percent of the sum of: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (1)  the state base salary paid to a district judge as  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        set by the General Appropriations Act in accordance with [by the 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          state under] Section 659.012(a) [659.012]; and | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (2)  the maximum amount of county contributions and  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        supplements allowed by law to be paid to a district judge under  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Section 659.012. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               SECTION 13.  Sections 74.003(b), (c), and (e), Government  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Code, are amended to read as follows: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (b)  The chief justice of the supreme court may assign a  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        qualified former or retired justice or judge of the supreme court,  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        of the court of criminal appeals, or of a court of appeals to a court  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        of appeals for active service regardless of whether a vacancy  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        exists in the court to which the justice or judge is assigned.  To be  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        eligible for assignment under this subsection, a former or retired  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        justice or judge must: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (1)  have served as an active justice or judge for at  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        least 96 months in a district, statutory probate, statutory county,  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        or appellate court, with at least 48 of those months in an appellate  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        court; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (2)  not have been removed from office; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (3)  certify under oath to the chief justice of the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        supreme court, on a form prescribed by the chief justice, that: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                           (A)  the justice or judge has never been publicly  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        reprimanded or censured by the State Commission on Judicial  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Conduct; and | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                           (B)  the justice or judge: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                                 (i)  did not resign or retire from office  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        after the State Commission on Judicial Conduct notified the justice  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        or judge of the commencement of a full investigation into an  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        allegation or appearance of misconduct or disability of the justice  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        or judge as provided in Section 33.022 and before the final  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        disposition of that investigation; or | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                                 (ii)  if the justice or judge did resign from  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        office under circumstances described by Subparagraph (i), the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        justice or judge was not publicly reprimanded or censured as a  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        result of the investigation; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (4)  annually demonstrate that the justice or judge has  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        completed in the past state fiscal year the educational  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        requirements for active appellate court justices or judges; and | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (5)  certify to the chief justice of the supreme court a  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        willingness not to appear and plead as an attorney in any court in  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        this state for a period of two years. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (c)  An active, former, or retired justice or judge assigned  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        as provided by this section out of the county of the justice's or  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        judge's [his] residence is entitled to receive the same expenses  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        and per diem as those allowed a district judge assigned as provided  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        by Subchapter C.  The state shall pay the expenses and per diem on  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        certificates of approval by the chief justice of the supreme court  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        or the chief justice of the court of appeals to which the justice or  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        judge is assigned.  The compensation authorized by this subsection  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        is in addition to all other compensation authorized by law. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (e)  A retired justice or judge assigned as provided by this  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        section is entitled to receive, pro rata for the time serving on  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        assignment, from money appropriated from the general revenue fund  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        for that purpose, an amount equal to the compensation received from  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        state and county sources by a justice of the court of appeals to  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        which assigned.  A former justice or judge assigned as provided by  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        this section is entitled to receive, pro rata for the time serving  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        on assignment, from money appropriated from the general revenue  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        fund for that purpose, an amount equal to the compensation from the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        state received by a justice of the court of appeals to which  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        assigned, and from county sources, an amount equal to the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        compensation received from county sources by a justice of the court  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        of appeals to which assigned.  For purposes of determining the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        amount to be paid to a former or retired justice or judge under this  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        subsection, the compensation received from the state by a justice  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        of the court of appeals to which the retired justice or judge is  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        assigned is the amount equal to the state base salary paid to a  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        justice of that court of appeals as set by the General  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Appropriations Act in accordance with Section 659.012(a). | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               SECTION 14.  Sections 74.051(b) and (c), Government Code,  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        are amended to read as follows: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (b)  Except as provided by Subsection (c), a presiding judge  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        shall receive a salary in an amount not to exceed 30 percent of the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        state base salary paid to a district judge as set by the General  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Appropriations Act in accordance with Section 659.012(a) [$33,000 a 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          year].  The Texas Judicial Council shall set the salary biennially  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        and, in arriving at the amount of the salary, shall consider whether  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        the presiding judge is active in administrative duties, performs  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        part time, or is a retired judge.  The salary set by the Texas  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Judicial Council shall be apportioned to each county in the region  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        according to the population of the counties in [comprising] the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        region and shall be paid through the county budget process. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (c)  A presiding judge who is a retired or former district  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        judge or a retired appellate judge and who presides over an  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        administrative region with 30 or more district courts, statutory  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        county courts, and retired and former judges named on the list  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        maintained under Section 74.055 for the administrative region is  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        entitled to an annual salary for each fiscal year in an amount equal  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        to [as follows]: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Number of Courts and Judges     Salary | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                    30 to 49                  30 percent of the state base  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        salary paid to a district  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        judge as set by the General  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Appropriations Act in  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        accordance with Section  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        659.012(a) [$35,000] | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                    50 to 69                  35 percent of the state base  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        salary paid to a district  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        judge as set by the General  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Appropriations Act in  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        accordance with Section  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        659.012(a) [$40,000] | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                    70 to 89                  40 percent of the state base  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        salary paid to a district  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        judge as set by the General  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Appropriations Act in  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        accordance with Section  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        659.012(a) [$45,000] | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                    90 or more                45 percent of the state base  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        salary paid to a district  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        judge as set by the General  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Appropriations Act in  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        accordance with Section  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        659.012(a) [$50,000] | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               SECTION 15.  Sections 74.061(b), (h), and (i), Government  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Code, are amended to read as follows: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (b)  While serving in a county outside the judge's [his]  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        judicial district or county, an assigned [a] judge is entitled to  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        receive, in addition to the assigned judge's [his] necessary  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        expenses, additional compensation from the county to which the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        assigned judge [he] is assigned in an amount not to exceed the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        difference between the compensation of the assigned judge from all  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        sources, exclusive of the per diem provided by Subsection (f), and  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        the compensation received from all sources by the judge of the court  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        to which the assigned judge [he] is assigned.  If the judge of the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        court to which the assigned judge is assigned is paid an annual  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        salary from the state in accordance with Section 659.012(b), the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        amount by which that annual salary exceeds the amount of the state  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        base salary as set by the General Appropriations Act for the judge's  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        position in accordance with Section 659.012(a) is not included in  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        the compensation of the judge for purposes of determining the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        compensation of the assigned judge under this subsection.  The  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        county shall pay the compensation provided by this subsection on  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        approval of the presiding judge of the administrative region in  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        which the court to which the assigned judge is assigned is located. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (h)  Notwithstanding Subsection (c), the salary from the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        state of a retired judge or justice assigned to a district court is  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        determined pro rata based on the sum of the regular judge's salary  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        from the county plus the amount of the state base salary paid to a  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        district judge as set by the General Appropriations Act in  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        accordance with Section 659.012(a) [greater of:
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     [(1)
           
           
          the regular judge's salary from the state on 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          August 31, 2007; or
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     [(2)
           
           
          100 percent of the regular judge's salary from the 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          state, as established by the General Appropriations Act for any 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          fiscal year]. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (i)  Notwithstanding Subsection (d), the salary from the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        state of a former judge or justice assigned to a district court is  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        determined pro rata based on the amount of the state base salary  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        paid to a district judge as set by the General Appropriations Act in  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        accordance with Section 659.012(a) [greater of:
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     [(1)
           
           
          the regular judge's salary from the state on 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          August 31, 2007; or
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     [(2)
           
           
          100 percent of the regular judge's salary from the 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          state, as established by the General Appropriations Act for any 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          fiscal year]. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               SECTION 16.  Section 75.016(c), Government Code, is amended  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        to read as follows: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (c)  The Commissioners Court of Travis County may set  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        additional compensation to be paid to the presiding criminal judge  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        by the county in any amount that does not exceed the amount the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        local administrative district judge of Travis County receives from  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        this state.  Notwithstanding any other law, compensation paid the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        presiding criminal judge under this subsection is not included as  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        part of the judge's combined base salary from all state and county  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        sources for purposes of the salary limitations provided by Section  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        659.012. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               SECTION 17.  Section 659.012, Government Code, is amended to  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        read as follows: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 659.012.  JUDICIAL SALARIES.  (a)  Notwithstanding  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Section 659.011 and subject to Subsections (b) and (b-1): | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (1)  a judge of a district court is entitled to an  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        annual base salary from the state as set by the General  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Appropriations Act in an amount equal to [of] at least $140,000  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        [$125,000], except that the combined base salary of a district  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        judge 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 [provided] for a  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        justice of a court of appeals other than a chief justice as  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        determined under this subsection; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (2)  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 [that is] 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 $5,000 less  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        than the base salary [provided] for a justice of the supreme court  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        as determined under this subsection; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (3)  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 [that is] equal to 120 percent of the state base  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        salary of a district judge as set by the General Appropriations Act;  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        and | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (4)  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 [that is] $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 [that is] $2,500 less than the base salary  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        [provided] for a justice of the supreme court as determined under  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        this subsection. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (b)  A judge or justice for whom the amount of a state base  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        salary is prescribed by Subsection (a) is entitled to an annual  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        salary from the state in the amount equal to: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (1)  110 percent of the state base salary paid in  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        accordance with Subsection (a) for the judge's or justice's  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        position, beginning with the pay period that begins after the judge  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        or justice accrues four years of: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                           (A)  contributing service credit in the Judicial  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Retirement System of Texas Plan One or the Judicial Retirement  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        System of Texas Plan Two; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                           (B)  service as a judge of a statutory county  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        court, multicounty statutory county court, or statutory probate  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        court; or | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                           (C)  combined contributing service credit and  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        service as provided by Paragraphs (A) and (B); and | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (2)  120 percent of the state base salary paid in  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        accordance with Subsection (a) for the judge's or justice's  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        position, beginning with the pay period that begins after the judge  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        or justice accrues eight years of: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                           (A)  contributing service credit in the Judicial  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Retirement System of Texas Plan One or the Judicial Retirement  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        System of Texas Plan Two; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                           (B)  service as a judge of a statutory county  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        court, multicounty statutory county court, or statutory probate  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        court; or | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                           (C)  combined contributing service credit and  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        service as provided by Paragraphs (A) and (B). | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (b-1)  A limitation on the combined base salary from all  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        state and county sources prescribed by Subsection (a)(1) or (2)  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        applies to a judge or justice to whom Subsection (b) applies, except  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        that the amount by which the annual salary from the state paid to  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        the judge or justice in accordance with Subsection (b) exceeds the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        amount of the state base salary for the judge's or justice's  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        position set by the General Appropriations Act in accordance with  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Subsection (a) is not included as part of the judge's or justice's  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        combined base salary from all state and county sources for purposes  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        of determining whether the judge's or justice's salary exceeds the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        limitation. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (c)  To the extent of any conflict, the salary limitations  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        provided by Subsection (a) [this section] for the combined base  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        salary of a state judge or justice from state and local sources  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        prevail [prevails] over any provision of Chapter 31 or 32 that  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        authorizes the payment of additional compensation to a state judge  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        or justice. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (d)  Notwithstanding any other provision in this section or  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        other law, in a county with more than five district courts, a  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        district judge who serves as a local administrative district judge  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        under Section 74.091 is entitled to an annual base salary from the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        state in the amount equal to [that is] $5,000 more than the maximum  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        salary from the state to which the judge is otherwise entitled under  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Subsection (a) or (b). | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (e)  For the purpose of salary payments by the state, the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        comptroller shall determine from sworn statements filed by the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        justices of the courts of appeals and district judges that the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        required salary limitations provided by Subsection (a) [this 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          section] are maintained.  If the state base [a] salary for a judge  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        or justice prescribed by Subsection (a) combined with additional  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        compensation from a county would exceed [be in excess of] the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        limitations provided by Subsection (a) [this section], the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        comptroller shall reduce the [state] salary payment made by the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        state by the amount of the excess. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (f)  For purposes of Subsection (b), "contributing service  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        credit" means service credit established in the: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (1)  Judicial Retirement System of Texas Plan One under  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Section 833.101 or 833.106 for each month of service in which the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        member held a judicial office described by Section 832.001(a),  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        including service credit established under either section that was  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        previously canceled but reestablished under Section 833.102; or | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (2)  Judicial Retirement System of Texas Plan Two under  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Section 838.101 or 838.106 for each month of service in which the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        member held a judicial office described by Section 837.001(a),  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        including service credit established under either section that was  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        previously canceled but reestablished under Section 838.102. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               SECTION 18.  Section 659.0125, Government Code, is amended  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        by amending Subsection (c) and adding Subsection (d) to read as  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        follows: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (c)  A retired judge appointed to an MDL pretrial court, as  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        defined by Section 90.001, Civil Practice and Remedies Code, is  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        entitled to receive the same compensation and benefits to which a  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        district judge is entitled from the state.  For purposes of this  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        subsection, the compensation to which a district judge is entitled  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        from the state is the amount equal to the state base salary paid to a  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        district judge as set by the General Appropriations Act in  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        accordance with Section 659.012(a). | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (d)  A former or retired judge or justice assigned under  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Chapter 74 or 75 to a matter referred to an MDL pretrial court, as  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        defined by Section 90.001, Civil Practice and Remedies Code, is  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        entitled to receive the same compensation and benefits to which a  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        former or retired judge or justice assigned under Chapter 74 is  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        entitled under Section 74.061. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               SECTION 19.  Section 659.0445(b), Government Code, is  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        amended to read as follows: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (b)  The monthly amount of longevity pay under this section  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        to which a judge or justice described by Subsection (a) is entitled: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (1)  is equal to the product of 0.05 [.031] multiplied  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        by the amount of the judge's or justice's current monthly state  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        salary; and | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (2)  becomes payable beginning with the month following  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        the month in which the judge or justice completes 12 [16] years of  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        service for which credit is established in the applicable  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        retirement system. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               SECTION 20.  Section 814.103, Government Code, is amended to  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        read as follows: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 814.103.  SERVICE RETIREMENT BENEFITS FOR ELECTED CLASS  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        SERVICE.  (a)  Except as provided by Subsection (a-1) or (b), the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        standard service retirement annuity for service credited in the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        elected class of membership is an amount equal to the number of  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        years of service credit in that class, times 2.3 [two] percent of  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        the state base salary, excluding longevity pay payable under  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Section 659.0445 and as adjusted from time to time, being paid to a  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        district judge as set by the General Appropriations Act in  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        accordance with Section 659.012(a). | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (a-1)  Except as provided by Subsection (b), the standard  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        service retirement annuity for service credited in the elected  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        class of membership for a member of the class under Section  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        812.002(a)(3) whose effective date of retirement is on or after  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        September 1, 2019, is an amount equal to the number of years of  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        service credit in that class, times 2.3 percent of the state salary,  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        excluding longevity pay payable under Section 659.0445 and as  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        adjusted from time to time, being paid in accordance with Section  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        659.012 to a district judge who has the same number of years of  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        contributing service credit as the member on the member's last day  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        of service as a district or criminal district attorney, as  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        applicable. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (b)  The standard service retirement annuity for service  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        credited in the elected class may not exceed at any time 100 percent  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        of the state salary of [being paid] a district judge on which the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        annuity is based under Subsection (a) or (a-1), as applicable. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (c)  For purposes of this section, "contributing service  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        credit" with respect to: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (1)  a member means service credit established in the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        elected class under Section 813.201 or 813.402 for each month of  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        service in which the member held a position described by Section  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        812.002(a)(3), including service credit established under either  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        section that was previously canceled but reestablished under  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Section 813.102; and | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (2)  a district judge has the meaning assigned by  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Section 659.012(f). | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               SECTION 21.  Section 815.204(c), Government Code, is amended  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        to read as follows: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (c)  The medical board shall: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (1)  review all medical examinations required by this  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        subtitle and Subtitle D; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (2)  investigate essential statements and certificates  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        made by or on behalf of a member of the retirement system in  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        connection with an application for disability retirement; and | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (3)  report in writing to the executive director its  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        conclusions and recommendations on all matters referred to it. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               SECTION 22.  Section 834.001, Government Code, is amended to  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        read as follows: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 834.001.  TYPES OF BENEFITS.  The types of benefits  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        payable by the retirement system are: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (1)  service retirement benefits; and | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (2)  [disability retirement benefits; and
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     [(3)]  death benefits. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               SECTION 23.  Section 834.002, Government Code, is amended to  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        read as follows: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 834.002.  APPLICATION FOR RETIREMENT.  A member may  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        apply for service [or disability] retirement by filing an  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        application for retirement with the board of trustees before the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        date the member wishes to retire. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               SECTION 24.  Sections 834.102(a) and (d), Government Code,  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        are amended to read as follows: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (a)  The base service retirement annuity for a person whose  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        effective date of retirement is: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (1)  before September 1, 2019, is an amount equal to 50  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        percent of the state base salary, as adjusted from time to time,  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        being paid in accordance with Section 659.012(a) to a judge of a  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        court of the same classification as the court on which the retiree  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        last served before retirement; or | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (2)  on or after September 1, 2019, is an amount equal  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        to 50 percent of the state salary, as adjusted from time to time,  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        being paid in accordance with Section 659.012(b)(2) to a judge of a  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        court of the same classification as the court on which the retiree  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        last served before retirement. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (d)  The service retirement annuity of a person qualifying  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        for retirement under Section 834.101(b) whose effective date of  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        retirement is: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (1)  before September 1, 2019, is an amount computed as  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        a percentage of the state base salary, as adjusted from time to  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        time, being paid in accordance with Section 659.012(a) to a judge of  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        a court of the same classification as the court on which the retiree  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        last served before retirement, according to the following schedule: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          
            
              | age at retirement | 
                percentage of state salary | 
             
           
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          
            
              | at least 60 but less than 61 | 
              40   percent | 
             
           
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          
            
              | at least 61 but less than 62 | 
              41.7 percent | 
             
           
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          
            
              | at least 62 but less than 63 | 
              43.6 percent | 
             
           
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          
            
              | at least 63 but less than 64 | 
              45.6 percent | 
             
           
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          
            
              | at least 64 but less than 65 | 
              47.7 percent; or | 
             
           
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (2)  on or after September 1, 2019, is an amount  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        computed as a percentage of the state salary, as adjusted from time  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        to time, being paid in accordance with Section 659.012(b)(2) to a  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        judge of a court of the same classification as the court on which  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        the retiree last served before retirement, according to the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        following schedule: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          
            
              | age at retirement | 
                percentage of state salary | 
             
           
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          
            
              | at least 60 but less than 61 | 
              40   percent | 
               | 
             
           
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          
            
              | at least 61 but less than 62 | 
              41.7 percent | 
               | 
             
           
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          
            
              | at least 62 but less than 63 | 
              43.6 percent | 
               | 
             
           
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          
            
              | at least 63 but less than 64 | 
              45.6 percent | 
               | 
             
           
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          
            
              | at least 64 but less than 65 | 
              47.7 percent | 
               | 
             
           
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               SECTION 25.  Section 834.304(c), Government Code, is amended  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        to read as follows: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (c)  A death benefit may not be paid under this section if an  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        optional retirement annuity has been selected as provided by  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Section 834.103 [or 834.203]. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               SECTION 26.  Section 835.1015(b), Government Code, is  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        amended to read as follows: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (b)  A member who elects to make contributions under  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Subsection (a) shall contribute at the member contribution rate  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        required under Section 840.102(a) multiplied by [six percent of]  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        the member's state compensation for each payroll period in the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        manner provided by Sections 835.101(a) and (b). | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               SECTION 27.  Section 839.102(a), Government Code, as amended  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        by Chapters 1033 (H.B. 1114) and 1203 (H.B. 617), Acts of the 79th  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Legislature, Regular Session, 2005, is  reenacted and amended to  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        read as follows: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (a)  Except as provided by Subsections (b), (c), (d), and  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        (f), the standard service retirement annuity is an amount equal to  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        50 percent of the state annual salary as set by the General  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Appropriations Act in accordance with Section 659.012 being paid  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        [at the time the member retires] to a judge of a court of the same  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        classification as the last court to which the retiring member held  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        judicial office who has the same number of years of contributing  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        service credit as the member on the member's last day of service on  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        the court [was elected or appointed]. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               SECTION 28.  Section 839.102, Government Code, is amended by  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        amending Subsection (c) and adding Subsections (g) and (h) to read  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        as follows: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (c)  The standard service retirement annuity of a person  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        qualifying for retirement under Section 839.101(b) is an amount  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        computed, according to the following schedule, as a percentage of  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        the state annual salary as set by the General Appropriations Act in  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        accordance with Section 659.012 being paid [at the time the member 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          retires] to a judge of a court of the same classification as the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        last court to which the retiring member held judicial office who has  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        the same number of years of contributing service credit as the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        member on the member's last day of service on the court [was elected 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          or appointed, according to the following schedule]: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          
            
              | age at retirement | 
                percentage of state salary | 
             
           
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          
            
              | at least 60 but less than 61 | 
              40   percent | 
             
           
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          
            
              | at least 61 but less than 62 | 
              41.7 percent | 
             
           
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          
            
              | at least 62 but less than 63 | 
              43.6 percent | 
             
           
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          
            
              | at least 63 but less than 64 | 
              45.6 percent | 
             
           
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          
            
              | at least 64 but less than 65 | 
               47.7 percent. | 
             
           
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (g)  The salary earned by a person as a visiting judge under  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Chapter 74 may not be used to determine the person's service  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        retirement annuity under this section. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (h)  For purposes of this section, "contributing service  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        credit" has the meaning assigned by Section 659.012(f). | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               SECTION 29.  Sections 839.201(a) and (b), Government Code,  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        are amended to read as follows: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (a)  A member, other than a member who is eligible to receive  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        a service retirement annuity under Section 839.101, is eligible,  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        regardless of age, to retire from regular active service for  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        disability and receive a disability retirement annuity if the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        member has at least seven years of service credit in the retirement  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        system. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (b)  A member otherwise eligible may not receive a disability  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        retirement annuity if the member is an active judge, as defined by  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Section 74.041 [unless the chief justice of the supreme court and 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          the medical board certify that the member is mentally or physically 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          incapacitated for the further performance of regular judicial 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          duties]. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               SECTION 30.  Section 839.202, Government Code, is amended to  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        read as follows: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 839.202.  APPLICATION FOR DISABILITY RETIREMENT  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        ANNUITY [REPORTS].  (a)  A member may apply for a disability  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        retirement annuity by: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (1)  filing an application for retirement with the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        board of trustees; or | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (2)  having an application filed with the board of  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        trustees by the member's spouse, employer, or legal representative  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        [who applies for retirement because of physical incapacity shall 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          file with the retirement system and the chief justice of the supreme 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          court written reports by two physicians licensed to practice 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          medicine in this state, fully reporting the claimed physical 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          incapacity]. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (b)  An [The retirement system shall refer an] application  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        for a disability retirement annuity may not be made: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (1)  after the earlier of: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                           (A)  the date the retirement is to become  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        effective; or | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                           (B)  the second anniversary of the date the member  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        ceased making contributions to the retirement system; or | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (2)  earlier than the 90th day before the date the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        retirement is to become effective [to the medical board for its 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          recommendations. The medical board may require an applicant to 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          submit any additional information it considers necessary to enable 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          it to make its recommendations]. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (c)  An applicant for a disability retirement annuity must  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        submit to a medical examination and provide other pertinent  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        information as may be required by the retirement system [The chief 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          justice of the supreme court may direct the retirement system to 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          employ a physician under Section 840.203 or may direct the medical 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          board to require additional information under Subsection (b)]. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               SECTION 31.  Subchapter C, Chapter 839, Government Code, is  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        amended by adding Section 839.2025 to read as follows: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               Sec. 839.2025.  DETERMINATION OF DISABILITY.  (a)  In  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        determining whether a member is mentally or physically  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        incapacitated for the further performance of regular judicial  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        duties, the medical board designated under Section 840.202 may  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        apply the standard prescribed by Section 814.203. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (b)  A retiree who receives a disability retirement annuity  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        under this subchapter is subject to Section 814.208 to the same  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        extent as a disability retiree under that subchapter. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               SECTION 32.  Section 840.102(a), Government Code, is amended  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        to read as follows: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (a)  Except as provided by Subsections (g) and (h), each  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        payroll period, a judicial officer who is a member of the retirement  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        system is required to contribute 9.5[:
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     [(1)  6.6] percent of the officer's state compensation  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        for service rendered after [August 31, 2013, and before] September  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        1, 2019 [2014;
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     [(2)
           
           
          6.9 percent of the officer's state compensation 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          for service rendered after August 31, 2014, and before September 1, 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          2015;
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     [(3)
           
           
          7.2 percent of the officer's state compensation 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          for service rendered after August 31, 2015, and before September 1, 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          2016;
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     [(4)
           
           
          7.5 percent of the officer's state compensation 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          for service rendered after August 31, 2016; or
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     [(5)
           
           
          for service rendered on or after September 1, 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          2017, the lesser of:
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                           [(A)
           
           
          7.5 percent of the officer's state 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          compensation; or
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                           [(B)
           
           
          a percentage of the officer's state 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          compensation equal to 7.5 percent reduced by one-tenth of one 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          percent for each one-tenth of one percent that the state 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          contribution rate for the fiscal year to which the service relates 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          is less than the state contribution rate established for the 2015 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        
          fiscal year]. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               SECTION 33.  Section 1551.102(f), Insurance Code, is amended  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        to read as follows: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (f)  An individual is eligible to participate in the group  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        benefits program if the individual is certified and qualified as  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        disabled and receives or is eligible to receive an annuity under  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Section 814.202, 814.207, 824.302, only as to higher education,  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        [834.201,] or 839.201, Government Code. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               SECTION 34.  The following provisions of the Government Code  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        are repealed: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (1)  Sections 25.2292(f) and (g); | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (2)  Section 834.003; | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (3)  Subchapter C, Chapter 834; and | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (4)  Section 840.202(c). | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               SECTION 35.  Section 839.102, Government Code, as amended by  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        this Act, applies only to a member of the Judicial Retirement System  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        of Texas Plan Two who retires on or after the effective date of this  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Act.  A member who retires before the effective date of this Act is  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        governed by the law in effect immediately before that date, and the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        former law is continued in effect for that purpose. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               SECTION 36.  Sections 839.201(b) and 839.202, Government  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Code, as amended by this Act, and Section 839.2025, Government  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Code, as added by this Act, apply only to an application for a  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        disability retirement annuity filed on or after the effective date  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        of this Act.  An application filed before the effective date of this  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the application was  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        filed, and that law is continued in effect for that purpose. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               SECTION 37.  The comptroller of public accounts is required  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        to implement a provision of this Act only if the legislature  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        appropriates money specifically for that purpose.  If the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        legislature does not appropriate money specifically for that  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        purpose, the comptroller may, but is not required to, implement a  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        provision of this Act using other appropriations available for that  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        purpose. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               SECTION 38.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. | 
      
      
        |   | 
      
      
        |   | 
      
      
        |   | 
        ______________________________ | 
        ______________________________ | 
      
      
        |   | 
           President of the Senate | 
        Speaker of the House      | 
      
      
        |   | 
      
      
        |   | 
      
      
        | 
           		
			 | 
               I certify that H.B. No. 2384 was passed by the House on May 1,  | 
      
      
        | 
           		
			 | 
        2019, by the following vote:  Yeas 143, Nays 2, 2 present, not  | 
      
      
        | 
           		
			 | 
        voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B.  | 
      
      
        | 
           		
			 | 
        No. 2384 on May 24, 2019, by the following vote:  Yeas 136, Nays 2,  | 
      
      
        | 
           		
			 | 
        3 present, not voting. | 
      
      
        | 
           		
			 | 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           		
			 | 
        ______________________________ | 
      
      
        | 
           		
			 | 
        Chief Clerk of the House    | 
      
      
        |   | 
      
      
        | 
           		
			 | 
               I certify that H.B. No. 2384 was passed by the Senate, with  | 
      
      
        | 
           		
			 | 
        amendments, on May 22, 2019, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays  | 
      
      
        | 
           		
			 | 
        0. | 
      
      
        | 
           		
			 | 
         | 
      
      
        | 
           		
			 | 
        ______________________________ | 
      
      
        | 
           		
			 | 
        Secretary of the Senate    | 
      
      
        | 
           		
			 | 
        APPROVED: __________________ | 
      
      
        | 
           		
			 | 
                        Date        | 
      
      
        | 
           		
			 | 
          | 
      
      
        | 
           		
			 | 
                 __________________ | 
      
      
        | 
           		
			 | 
                      Governor        |