House Bill 319

Chair's Name: Wendell Willard

Committee: Judiciary

House Sponsor: Barry Fleming

HB 319 raises the salary set in statute for district attorneys to $127,900, bringing the salaries closer to that of the new superior court judges' salaries as passed by the House last week. (Although the bill only shows the D.A. salary as $107,905, the actual current salary is $111,905 because of subsequent cost of living adjustments not reflected in the current code.) In the past, the salaries of judges and district attorneys were set at the same amount, but over time a disparity between the two occurred when the salaries were "decoupled."   By closing the gap again, it is the hope that qualified and experienced district attorneys will not leave to seek judicial office for simply salary reasons.  This problem has occurred in the past.

The bill received a unanimous Do Pass recommendation from the Judiciary Committee and comes to the House Floor under the Open Rule. 

Chairman Willard�s opinion of this legislation:

WHAT PROBLEM/OPPORTUNITY DOES THIS LEGISLATION ADDRESS?

This legislation addresses the pay disparity between superior court judges and district attorneys.

WHAT IS THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND THIS LEGISLATION?

Counties are loosing qualified district attorneys due to salary issues.