Bill Text: CT SB00031 | 2012 | General Assembly | Chaptered
Bill Title: An Act Establishing A Commission On Judicial Compensation.
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 10-2)
Status: (Passed) 2012-06-08 - Signed by the Governor [SB00031 Detail]
Download: Connecticut-2012-SB00031-Chaptered.html
AN ACT ESTABLISHING A COMMISSION ON JUDICIAL COMPENSATION.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:
Section 1. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2012) (a) There is established a Commission on Judicial Compensation for the purpose of examining and making recommendations with respect to judicial compensation. The commission shall consist of the following members: (1) Four appointed by the Governor; (2) one appointed by the president pro tempore of the Senate; (3) one appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives; (4) one appointed by the majority leader of the Senate; (5) one appointed by the majority leader of the House of Representatives; (6) one appointed by the minority leader of the Senate; (7) one appointed by the minority leader of the House of Representatives; and (8) two appointed by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. To the extent practicable, each appointing authority shall appoint members who have experience in financial management, human resource administration or the determination of executive compensation. Each member of the commission shall serve a term of four years, and no member may be appointed to more than one four-year term, except that any member may continue to serve until such member's successor is appointed and qualified. Any vacancy on the commission shall be filled for the unexpired portion of the term by the appointing authority having the power to make the original appointment. The commission shall elect a chairperson from among its members. A majority of the members of the commission shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of any business.
(b) Not later than January 2, 2013, and every four years thereafter, the commission shall:
(1) Examine the adequacy and need for adjustment of compensation, for each of the following four fiscal years, for (A) the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, (B) the Chief Court Administrator if a judge of the Supreme Court, Appellate Court or Superior Court, (C) each associate judge of the Supreme Court, (D) the Chief Judge of the Appellate Court, (E) each judge of the Appellate Court, (F) the Deputy Chief Court Administrator if a judge of the Superior Court, (G) each judge of the Superior Court, (H) the judge designated as the administrative judge of the appellate system, (I) each Superior Court judge designated as the administrative judge of a judicial district, (J) each Superior Court judge designated as chief administrative judge, (K) the Chief Family Support Magistrate, and (L) each Family Support Magistrate; and
(2) Examine the adequacy and need for adjustment of per diem compensation, for each of the following four fiscal years, for senior judges, judge trial referees and family support referees.
(c) In conducting its examination under subsection (b) of this section, the commission shall take into account all appropriate factors including, but not limited to: (1) The overall economic climate in the state; (2) the rate of inflation; (3) the levels of compensation received by judges of other states and of the federal government; (4) the levels of compensation received by attorneys employed by government agencies, academic institutions and private and nonprofit organizations; (5) the state's interest in attracting highly qualified and experienced attorneys to serve in judicial capacities; (6) compensation adjustments applicable to employees of the state during applicable fiscal years; and (7) the state's ability to fund increases in compensation.
(d) Not later than January 2, 2013, and every four years thereafter, the commission shall submit a report on its findings, in accordance with section 11-4a of the general statutes, to the Governor, the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, the General Assembly, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and the Chief Court Administrator. Not later than January 9, 2013, and every four years thereafter, the Chief Court Administrator shall transmit estimates of expenditure requirements to implement the recommendations in the report for each fiscal year of the next biennium, and for each fiscal year of the subsequent biennium, to the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, on blanks to be furnished by him, and to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to appropriations and the budgets of state agencies, through the Office of Fiscal Analysis, and the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to the judiciary.
Sec. 2. Subsection (g) of section 4-73 of the 2012 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2012):
(g) (1) The appropriations recommended for the Judicial Department shall be the estimates of expenditure requirements transmitted to the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management by the Chief Court Administrator pursuant to section 4-77 plus the estimates of expenditure requirements for the biennium transmitted by said administrator pursuant to section 1 of this act, and the recommended adjustments and revisions of such estimates shall be the recommended adjustments and revisions, if any, transmitted by said administrator pursuant to section 4-77.
(2) The appropriations recommended for the Division of Public Defender Services shall be the estimates of expenditure requirements transmitted to the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management by the Chief Public Defender pursuant to section 4-77 and the recommended adjustments and revisions of such estimates shall be the recommended adjustments and revisions, if any, transmitted by said administrator pursuant to section 4-77.
Sec. 3. Section 2-9a of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2012):
(a) (1) There is created a Compensation Commission consisting of eleven members, three of whom shall be appointed by the Governor, two of whom shall be appointed by the president pro tempore of the Senate, two of whom shall be appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives, two of whom shall be appointed by the minority leader of the Senate and two of whom shall be appointed by the minority leader of the House of Representatives. All members of said commission shall be appointed on or before July 1, 1971, and quadrennially thereafter, to serve for a term of four years. No person shall be appointed to said commission who is an official or employee of the state of Connecticut or any department, agency or political subdivision thereof, or who is an official or employee of any agency or institution more than ten per cent of the gross annual income of which is from state funds. Members shall not be compensated for their services as such but shall be reimbursed for all necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.
(2) On or before July 15, 1971, and biennially thereafter, the commission shall elect a chairman from its members. A majority of the members of said commission shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of any business. Any action taken by said commission shall be by majority vote of those present.
(b) The Compensation Commission shall recommend to the General Assembly, on or before February fifteenth, in odd-numbered years, legislative proposals for salary, expenses, pension, workers' compensation and any other benefits to be paid to the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of the State, Attorney General, Treasurer, Comptroller [,] and members of the General Assembly. [and judges of the courts of the state, except judges of probate. ] In its discretion, the commission also may submit its recommendation for such legislative proposals, on or before February fifteenth in even-numbered years. The General Assembly shall take action on such proposals at the session to which they are submitted. No proposals for legislative salary, if enacted by the General Assembly, shall become effective until the first Wednesday following the first Monday of the January succeeding the next election of members of the General Assembly. No proposals for salaries shall be effective as to the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of the State, Attorney General, Treasurer and Comptroller until the first Wednesday following the first Monday of the January succeeding the next election of said officers. Any other proposals of benefits, if enacted, shall be applicable with respect to the incumbents in the offices covered. Said commission may recommend different rates of salary, expenses and allowances for members of the General Assembly for session and interim periods and may recommend rates of salary, expenses and allowances for members of the General Assembly who are officers which are different from that established for other members.