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Who cares
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Sponsors
3 Co-sponsors
4 Multi-sponsors
History
- Held for consideration in judiciary
- Referred to judiciary
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
BILL NUMBER:A9760
Title of bill
An act to amend the judiciary law, in relation to the compensation of state-paid judges and justices of the unified court system; to amend the New York city civil court act, in relation to the compensation paid to New York city housing judges; to establish special commissions on compensation, and providing for their powers and duties; making an appropriation for compensation increases to state-paid judges and justices of the unified court system and New York city housing judg- es; and to repeal certain provisions of the judiciary law relating to the compensation of state-paid judges and justices of the unified court system
Purpose or general idea of bill
This bill increases the salary of justices of the Supreme Court and sets the salaries of all other State- paid judges at a certain percentage above or below the salary of Supreme Court Justices in a uniform manner. This bill also provides a mechanism for automatic increases thereafter.
Read the full memo (664 words)
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1 of the bill sets the salary of Justices of the Supreme Court at $165,200 beginning July 1, 2010 and sets the salaries of all other State-paid judges at a certain percentage above or below the salary of justices of the Supreme Court in a uniform manner. Beginning April 1, 2011, the salary of Supreme Court justices would increase by the same percentage as any annual salary increase afforded to a judge of the United States District Court.
Section 2 of the bill relates to the compensation of New York City Hous- ing Judges.
Section 3 of the bill establishes a 13-member special commission on judges and justices of the Unified Court System to study and make recom- mendations regarding their compensation, salary adjustments and non-sa- lary benefits. The commission is required to issue a report on its find- ings and recommendations to the Governor, Legislature and Chief Judge of the State no longer than September 1, 2010. The levels of compensation recommended by the commission is to take effect on January 1, 2011 and each recommendation of the commission is to have the force of law.
Section 4 of the bill establishes a 13-member commission on judicial compensation that is to meet every fourth year beginning on April 1, 2013 to study and make recommendations regarding the adequacy of compen- sation and non-salary benefits of State-paid judges and justices. The commission is required to issue a report of its findings and recommenda- tions, if any, within 120 days of its establishment. Each recommendation of the commission is to have the force of law.
Section 5 of this bill provides for the date of entitlement to salary increases.
Section 6 of this bill specifies that adjusted annual salaries are to be rounded up to the nearest multiple of $100.
Section 7 of the bill appropriates the sum of $48.2 million to pay for the salary increases pursuant to sections 1 and 2 of this bill.
Section 8 of the bill provides the effective date.
Justification
Salaries for State-paid judges and justices were last increased pursuant to Chapter 630 of the Laws of 1998. According to a study performed by the National Center for State Courts in May 2007, New York's judges have gone the longest of any in the country without a salary adjustment. New York's judicial pay have been significantly eroded by inflation. Moreover, Federal District Court Judges, with whom State Supreme Court justices enjoyed pay parity in 1999, are now earning over $30,000 more annually. And even within New York State, Judges are paid considerably less than thousands of public sector employees, including non-judicial employees who often earn more than the judges for whom they work.
Prior legislative history
New bill
Fiscal implications
An appropriation of $48.2 million is included to cover the costs necessitated by this bill.
Effective date
This bill takes effect immediately although sections 1 and 2 are deemed to have been in full force and effect on and after July 1, 2010.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.