SP0263, LD 725, item 1, An Act To Implement the Recommendations of the Judicial Compensation Commission

An Act To Implement the Recommendations of the Judicial Compensation Commission

Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and

Whereas, the 90-day period may not terminate until after the beginning of the next fiscal year; and

Whereas, current salaries for members of the State's judiciary are among the lowest in the nation; and

Whereas, it is the recommendation of the Judicial Compensation Commission that increases to judicial salaries become effective July 1, 2013; and

Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore,

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:

Sec. 1. 4 MRSA §4, sub-§1, as amended by PL 1997, c. 643, Pt. M, §1, is further amended to read:

1. Chief justice; salary. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court is entitled to receive a salary, for fiscal year 1998-99 2013-14 and thereafter, of $111,000 $157,475, to be paid biweekly.

Sec. 2. 4 MRSA §4, sub-§2, ¶A, as repealed and replaced by PL 1997, c. 643, Pt. M, §2, is amended to read:

A. For fiscal year 1998-99 2013-14 and thereafter, $96,000 $136,214, to be paid biweekly.

Sec. 3. 4 MRSA §102, sub-§1, as amended by PL 1997, c. 643, Pt. M, §4, is further amended to read:

1. Chief justice; salary. The Chief Justice of the Superior Court is entitled to receive a salary, for fiscal year 1998-99 2013-14 and thereafter, of $94,000 $133,374, to be paid biweekly.

Sec. 4. 4 MRSA §102, sub-§2, ¶A, as repealed and replaced by PL 1997, c. 643, Pt. M, §5, is amended to read:

A. For fiscal year 1998-99 2013-14 and thereafter, $90,000 $127,629, to be paid biweekly.

Sec. 5. 4 MRSA §157, sub-§2, as amended by PL 1997, c. 643, Pt. M, §7, is further amended to read:

2. Chief Judge; salary. The Chief Judge of the District Court is entitled to receive a salary, for fiscal year 1998-99 2013-14 and thereafter, of $94,000 $133,374, to be paid biweekly.

Sec. 6. 4 MRSA §157, sub-§3, as amended by PL 1997, c. 643, Pt. M, §8, is further amended to read:

3. Deputy Chief Judge; salary. The Deputy Chief Judge of the District Court is entitled to receive a salary, for fiscal year 1998-99 2013-14 and thereafter, of $92,000 $130,533, to be paid biweekly.

Sec. 7. 4 MRSA §157, sub-§4, ¶A, as repealed and replaced by PL 1997, c. 643, Pt. M, §9, is amended to read:

A. For fiscal year 1998-99 2013-14 and thereafter, $90,000 $127,629, to be paid biweekly.

Sec. 8. 4 MRSA §1701, sub-§13, as amended by PL 1995, c. 509, §1 and affected by §8, is further amended to read:

13. Biennial report required. No later than December 1st 15th of each even-numbered year, the commission shall make its biennial report to the joint standing committees of the Legislature having jurisdiction over appropriations matters and judicial matters. The biennial report must include findings, conclusions and recommendations as to the proper salary and benefits, including retirement, to be paid from the State Treasury and other sources for all justices and judges of this State. The commission is authorized to submit with its report any proposed legislation the commission determines necessary to implement these recommendations.

Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation takes effect July 1, 2013.

SUMMARY

This bill implements the recommendations of the Judicial Compensation Commission. It increases the salary of justices in the Supreme Judicial Court, Superior Court and District Court to provide a cost-of-living increase equal to the amount that would have been awarded had statutory increases been granted in fiscal year 2003-04, fiscal year 2004-05, fiscal year 2010-11, fiscal year 2011-12 and fiscal year 2012-13. It also changes the reporting deadline for the Judicial Compensation Commission from December 1st to December 15th.

SP0263 LD 725	Session - 126th Maine Legislature		LR 1047 Item 1
	Bill Tracking, Additional Documents	Chamber Status

Bill Tracking		Chamber Status
Amendments	Testimony, Public Hearings & Work Sessions		Committee Information
Other Documents			Title & Section

Search Bill Text		Search Bill Status
Bill Directory	Session Information		Legislative Information
Download MS-Word, Printed PDF		Maine Legislature

Office of Legislative Information 100 State House Station Augusta, ME 04333		voice: (207) 287-1692 fax: (207) 287-1580 tty: (207) 287-6826
Word Viewer for Windows		Disclaimer