House Bill No. by Representative McMakin aims to amend the judicial compensation framework in Louisiana by repealing the existing Judicial Compensation Commission and establishing a new system for determining judges' salaries. The bill introduces a new section, R.S. 13:41, which mandates that the salaries of judges from various courts, including the Louisiana Supreme Court and district courts, will be increased annually on July 1st based on a five-year rolling average of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) as determined by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This new approach replaces the previous requirement for the commission to study and recommend salary adjustments to the legislature.

Additionally, the bill stipulates that the annual salary increase for judges cannot exceed the percentage increase in average annual pay for full-time state classified employees, as reported by the Department of Civil Service. Furthermore, any proposed salary increase is contingent upon approval from both the Louisiana Supreme Court and the Louisiana Judicial Budgetary Control Board, ensuring that sufficient funding is available before any raises are implemented. If funds are insufficient, the salary increase for that year will be suspended. The bill effectively streamlines the process for judicial compensation while ensuring fiscal responsibility.

Statutes affected:
HB597 Original: