HB1375: HB1375 Hall County; State Court; judges; restate provisions

26 LC 47 3949/AP House Bill 1375 (AS PASSED HOUSE AND SENATE) By: Representatives Hawkins of the 27th, Hong of the 103rd, Clark of the 100th, Dunahoo of the 31st, and Dubnik of the 29th A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT To amend an Act creating the State Court of Hall County, approved August 14, 1891 (Ga.1 L. 1890-91, Vol. II, p. 939), as amended, particularly by an Act approved May 13, 2008 (Ga.2 L. 2008, p. 4069), so as to restate provisions related to the n umber, qualification, and3 compensation or the judges of said court; to restate provisions related to the chief judge; to4 provide for an additional judge for said court effective Januar y 1, 2028; to provide for the5 initial appointment and subsequent election of such additional judge; to provide a definition;6 to repeal superseded provisions; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.7 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:8 SECTION 1.9 An Act creating the State Court of Hall County, approved August 14, 1891 (Ga. L. 1890-91,10 Vol. II, p. 939), as amended, particularly by an Act approved May 13, 2008 (Ga. L. 2008, p.11 4069), is amended by revising Section 2 as follows:12 "SECTION 2.13 (a) Until January 1, 2028, there shall be three judges of the State Court of Hall County, as14 provided by existing law. The judges of said court in office prior to January 1, 2028, shall15 H. B. 1375 - 1 - 26 LC 47 3949/AP continue to serve the terms of office to which they were elected or appointed and until their16 successors are elected and qualified.17 (b) Effective January 1, 2028, there shall be four judges of the State Court of Hall County.18 The fourth judge added effective January 1, 2028, shall be appointed by the Governor for19 an initial term of office ending on December 31, 2030, and unti l his or her successor is20 elected and qualified. The successor to said judge shall be elected by the qualified voters21 of Hall County at an election to be held and conducted jointly with the general primary22 in 2030. The judge so elected shall serve a four-year term and until such judge's successor23 is elected and qualified.24 (c) The judges of said court shall have such qualifications an d shall be subject to such25 restrictions and discipline as provided in Chapter 7 of Title 15 of the O.C.G.A. Said judges26 shall be vested with the power and authority of the judges of the state courts by Chapter 727 of Title 15 of the O.C.G.A.28 (d) The judges of said court shall receive an annual salary equal to 90 percent of the gross29 salary as defined in subsection (e) of this section which shall be payable from the funds of30 Hall County at the same intervals as installments are paid to other county employees.31 (e) For the purposes of subsection (d) of this section, the term 'gross salary' shall mean the32 annual salary received by a judge of the superior court, from s tate funds only and any33 applicable locality pay, paid by Hall County effective July 1, 2026, plus any increases in34 said annual salary, on or after July 1, 2026. 35 (f) The judge who has served the longest period of time in office of said court shall be the36 chief judge of the State Court of Hall County."37 SECTION 2.38 Said Act is further amended by repealing Section 2A. 39 H. B. 1375 - 2 - 26 LC 47 3949/AP SECTION 3.40 All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.41 H. B. 1375 - 3 -