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2014 Special Session I

Budget Amendments - HB5002 (Committee Proposed)

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Direct Judicial Funding To Authorized Judgeships

Item 468 #3h

Item 468 #3h

First Year - FY2015 Second Year - FY2016
Central Appropriations
Central Appropriations FY2015 $8,917,707 FY2016 $10,118,726 GF

Language
Page 404, line 41, strike "$14,750,000" and insert "$23,667,707".
Page 404, line 41, strike "$2,750,000" and insert "$12,868,726".
Page 407, after line 44, insert:
“I.1. Notwithstanding the provisions of §§ 16.1-69.6:1 or 17.1-507, Code of Virginia, the total number of authorized judges in each judicial district or circuit shall be reduced by a number equal to the number of judges retiring, dying or resigning from that district or circuit for any authorized judgeship which was vacant or became vacant on or after July 1, 2014, and before July 1, 2016, effective upon the resignation, death or retirement date of each such judge.
2. Furthermore, notwithstanding the provisions of §§ 16.1-69.6:1 or 17.1-507, Code of Virginia, the total number of authorized judges in each judicial district or circuit shall be reduced by a number equal to the number of individual judgeships which were created pursuant to the passage of House Bill 606 or Senate Bill 443 of the 2014 General Assembly session unless the individual judgeship is specifically authorized in this paragraph or unless the judgeship is authorized in a special session of the 2014 General Assembly.
3. Effective July 1, 2014, the provisions of this item shall not apply to any authorized judgeship in which the vacancy occurred as a result of a judge being appointed to a judgeship on another Virginia court, except in those instances when the newly vacant judgeship was abolished pursuant to the enactment of House Bill 606 or Senate Bill 443 of the 2014 General Assembly Session, provided such appointment is to another authorized judgeship which is funded as provided herein or by existing law.
4. Effective July 1, 2014, the provisions of this item shall not apply to any authorized circuit court judgeship in the Third Judicial Circuit in which the retiring incumbent judge retired prior to January 1, 2013.
5. Effective July 1, 2014, the provisions of this item shall not apply to any authorized circuit court judgeship in the Fourth Judicial Circuit in which the retiring incumbent judge retired prior to July 1, 2012.
6. Effective July 1, 2014, the provisions of this item shall not apply to any authorized general district court judgeship in the Fifteenth Judicial District in which the retiring incumbent judge retired prior to February 1, 2013.
7. Effective July 1, 2014, the provisions of this item shall not apply to any authorized juvenile and domestic relations district court judgeship in the Twenty-fifth Judicial District in which the retiring incumbent judge retired prior to August 1, 2013.
8. Included in the appropriation is $8,917,707 the first year and $10,118,726 the second year from the general fund to fund vacant and newly created judgeships authorized in this item or authorized during a special session of the 2014 General Assembly.
9. The Director of the Department of Planning and Budget is authorized to transfer appropriation included in this item to Items 39, 40 and 41 as needed to effectuate the filing of judgeships as authorized in this paragraph or in a special session of the 2014 General Assembly.
10.  The State Comptroller shall revert to the general fund savings that are realized as a result of vacant judgeships. The reversion is estimated to be $1,000,000 on or before June 30, 2015 and $1,000,000 on or before June 30, 2016.”


Explanation
(This amendment includes $8.9 million from the general fund in fiscal year 2015 and $10.1 million from the general fund in fiscal year 2016 to fill judgeships which are either open as a result of a vacancy or that were created as a result of the enactment of House Bill 606 of the 2014 General Assembly Session. The amendment includes language which clarifies that funding and filling specific judgeships is contingent on the General Assembly specifically authorizing the filling through either budget language or action during a special session of the 2014 General Assembly. Companion amendments within the court system reduce funding in those items by $8.9 million the first year and $10.1 million the second year to offset the funding included under this amendment.)