BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    



                                                                  SB 11 X2
                                                                  Page  1


           (Without Reference to File)
           
          SENATE THIRD READING
          SB 11 X2 (Steinberg)
          As Amended  February 14, 2009
          Majority vote 

           SENATE VOTE  :Vote not relevant  
           
           SUMMARY  :  Makes statutory changes to address the decision of the  
          Court of Appeal in the Sturgeon v. County of Los Angeles, (2008)  
          167 Cal. App. 4th 630, regarding county-provided benefits for  
          judges.

          1)Provides that counties and courts who, subsequent to the  
            Lockyer-Isenberg Trial Court Funding Act of 1997, established  
            supplemental benefits to retain qualified applicants for  
            judicial office and where paying such benefits as of July 1,  
            2008:

                  a)        Shall continue to provide supplemental  
                    benefits to judges on the same terms and conditions as  
                    were in effect on July 1, 2008; and,

                  a)        May terminate its obligation to provide  
                    benefits under this section upon providing the  
                    Administrative Director of the Courts and the impacted  
                    judges with 180 days' written notice. This provision  
                    shall not be effective as to any judge during his or  
                    her current term while that judge continues to serve  
                    as a judge in that court or, at the election of the  
                    county, when that judge leaves office.  The county is  
                    also authorized to elect to provide benefits for all  
                    judges in the county.

          1)Makes technical changes to clarifies terms and ensure  
            uniformity with regard benefits and compensation for judges  
            and justices statewide.

          2)Provides that nothing in this act shall require the Judicial  
            Council to increase funding to a court for the purpose of  
            paying judicial benefits or obligate the state or the Judicial  
            Council to pay for benefits previously provided by the local  
            government or court.








                                                                  SB 11 X2
                                                                  Page  2



          3)Provides that there shall be no liability for any employee of  
            or a governmental entity that provided benefits to a judge, as  
            specified, prior to the effective date of this act.


           Analysis Prepared by  :   Joe Stephenshaw / BUDGET / (916)  
          319-2099


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