SB 346: DeKalb County; the compensation of certain judges, judicial officers, and county officers; revise

Senators Jackson of the 41st, Parent of the 44th, Harrell of the 40th, Anderson of the 43rd, Mangham of the 55th and others offered the following substitute to SB 346:

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

To amend an Act providing for the compensation of certain county officers and officials of DeKalb County, approved March 31, 1976 (Ga. L. 1976, p. 3986), as amended, so as to revise the compensation of certain judges, judicial officers, and county officers; to make conforming changes related to court names changed by general law; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:

SECTION 1.

An Act providing for the compensation of certain county officers and officials of DeKalb County, approved March 31, 1976 (Ga. L. 1976, p. 3986), as amended, is amended by revising Section 1 as follows:

"SECTION 1.

As used in this Act, the term 'gross salary' shall mean the higher of $218,990.30 or the highest annual salary provided to any Superior Court judge from State funds."

SECTION 2.

Said Act is further amended by adding a new section to read as follows: "SECTION 1.2.

Pursuant to Section 1 of an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 6 of Title 15 of the O.C.G.A., relating to general provisions regarding superior courts, approved May 6, 2024 (Ga. L. 2024, p. 738), as of January 1, 2025, the Stone Mountain Judicial Circuit shall be known and may be referred to as the DeKalb Judicial Circuit. Any reference in this Act to the Stone Mountain Judicial Circuit shall be deemed to refer to the DeKalb Judicial Circuit."

SECTION 3.

Said Act is further amended by revising Sections 2 and 2.1 as follows: "SECTION 2.

Notwithstanding any other provisions of law to the contrary, the annual salary of each of the officials of DeKalb County listed below shall be the following percentages of the gross salary as defined in Section 1:

(1) Chief Executive Officer......................................................................................100%

(2) Sheriff.................................................................................................................100%

(3) Clerk of the Superior Court.................................................................................80%

(4) Tax Commissioner...............................................................................................75%

(5) Members of the Board of Commissioners..............................................................32%

SECTION 2.1.

Notwithstanding any other provisions of law to the contrary, the annual salary of each judge of the State Court of DeKalb County, the Chief Magistrate of DeKalb County, the judge of the Probate Court of DeKalb County, each judge of the Juvenile Court of DeKalb County, and the Solicitor-General of DeKalb County shall be the higher of $208,040.00 or 90 percent of the gross salary as defined in Section 1 of this Act."

SECTION 4.

Said Act is further amended by repealing and reserving paragraphs (1) through (4) of Section 3, revising Section 3.1, and adding a new section to read as follows: "SECTION 3.1.

(a) Each full-time associate magistrate of DeKalb County shall receive an annual salary equal to 90 percent of the annual salary provided in this Act paid to the Chief Magistrate of DeKalb County.

(b) Each part-time associate magistrate of DeKalb County shall be paid an hourly rate commensurate with the annual salary provided in this Act paid to a full-time associate magistrate of DeKalb County.

SECTION 3.2.

The annual salaries provided in this Act shall be paid in equal monthly installments from funds of DeKalb County."

SECTION 5.

All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.