HB1057: HB1057 Gwinnett County; State Court; provide eighth judge January 1, 2027 and ninth judge January 1, 2028

26 LC 47 3884/AP House Bill 1057 (AS PASSED HOUSE AND SENATE) By: Representatives Kendrick of the 95th, Efstration of the 104th, Park of the 107th, Reeves of the 99th, Hong of the 103rd, and others A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT To amend an Act to continue and re-create the State Court of Gw innett County, approved1 March 23, 1977 (Ga. L. 1977, p. 3331), as amended, particularly by an Act approved2 May 2, 2022 (Ga. L. 2002, p. 6031), so as to provide for an eighth judge for the State Court3 of Gwinnett County beginning January 1, 2027; to provide for a ninth judge for said court4 beginning January 1, 2028; to provide for related matters; to provide for effective dates; to5 repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.6 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:7 PART I8 SECTION 1-1.9 An Act to continue and re-create the State Court of Gwinnett County, approved March 23,10 1977 (Ga. L. 1977, p. 3331), as amende d, particularly by an Act approved May 2, 202211 (Ga. L. 2002, p. 6031), is amended by striking subsection (a) of Section 13 and inserting in12 its place a new subsection (a) to read as follows:13 "(a) Until January 1, 2027, there shall be seven judges of the State Court of Gwinnett14 County. Effective January 1, 2027, there shall be eight judges of the State Court of15 H. B. 1057 - 1 - 26 LC 47 3884/AP Gwinnett County. The seven judges of the state court in office on January 1, 2027, shall16 continue to serve the terms of office to which they were elected. The eighth judge added17 effective January 1, 2027, shall be appointed by the Governor for an initial term of office18 ending on December 31, 2028, and until his or her successor is elected and qualified. 19 Future successors shall be elected at the general election conducted immediately prior to20 the expiration of the term of office, and they shall take offic e on the first day of January21 following their election and shall serve for a term of office o f four years and until their22 successors are duly elected and qualified. Said additional jud ge shall have and may23 exercise all powers, duties, jurisdictions, privileges, and immunities of the present judges24 of the State Court of Gwinnett County. Any of the judges of said court may preside over25 any cause and perform any official act as judge thereof. The c ompensation of the26 additional judge shall be the same as that provided for other judges of the State Court of27 Gwinnett County. Upon request of the additional judge, the gov erning authority of28 Gwinnett County is authorized to furnish the additional judge w ith suitable courtroom29 space and facilities, office space, office equipment, supplies, and such personnel as may30 be considered necessary by the court to the proper function of the court. All of the31 expenditures authorized herein are declared to be an expense of court and payable out of32 the county treasury as such."33 PART II34 SECTION 2-1.35 An Act to continue and re-create the State Court of Gwinnett County, approved March 23,36 1977 (Ga. L. 1977, p. 3331), as amended, particularly by an Act approved May 2, 202237 (Ga. L. 2002, p. 6031), is amended by striking subsection (a) of Section 13 and inserting in38 its place a new subsection (a) to read as follows:39 H. B. 1057 - 2 - 26 LC 47 3884/AP "(a) Until January 1, 2028, there shall be eight judges of the State Court of Gwinnett40 County. Effective January 1, 2028, there shall be nine judges of the State Court of41 Gwinnett County. The eight judges of the state court in office on January 1, 2028, shall42 continue to serve the terms of office to which they were electe d. The ninth judge added43 effective January 1, 2028, shall be appointed by the Governor for an initial term of office44 ending on December 31, 2030, and until his or her successor is elected and qualified. 45 Future successors shall be elected at the general election conducted immediately prior to46 the expiration of the term of office, and they shall take offic e on the first day of January47 following their election and shall serve for a term of office o f four years and until their48 successors are duly elected and qualified. Said additional jud ge shall have and may49 exercise all powers, duties, jurisdictions, privileges, and immunities of the present judges50 of the State Court of Gwinnett County. Any of the judges of said court may preside over51 any cause and perform any official act as judge thereof. The c ompensation of the52 additional judge shall be the same as that provided for other judges of the State Court of53 Gwinnett County. Upon request of the additional judge, the gov erning authority of54 Gwinnett County is authorized to furnish the additional judge w ith suitable courtroom55 space and facilities, office space, office equipment, supplies, and such personnel as may56 be considered necessary by the court to the proper function of the court. All of the57 expenditures authorized herein are declared to be an expense of court and payable out of58 the county treasury as such."59 PART III60 SECTION 3-1.61 (a) Except as provided for in subsections (b) and (c) of this section, this Act shall become62 effective upon its approval by the Governor or upon its becoming law without such approval.63 H. B. 1057 - 3 - 26 LC 47 3884/AP (b) Part I of this Act shall become effective on January 1, 2027, except that the Governor is64 authorized to appoint the eighth judge added by Section 1-1 of this Act prior to January 1,65 2027, but any person so appointed shall not take office until January 1, 2027.66 (c) Part II of this Act shall become effective on January 1, 2028, except that the Governor67 is authorized to appoint the ninth judge added by Section 2-1 of this Act prior to January 1,68 2028, but not earlier than July 1, 2027, and any person so appointed shall not take office until69 January 1, 2028.70 SECTION 3-2.71 All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.72 H. B. 1057 - 4 -