HB 1556 Summary

• Legislature rejects the Board on Judicial Compensation's September 17, 2013 Final Report and establishes new judicial salary schedule effective July 1, 2014, providing 6% salary increases for Supreme Court justices, appellate judges, and district court judges.

• Amends 20 O.S. § 3.2 to require that all judicial compensation from the Board on Judicial Compensation shall not become effective unless approved by majority vote of each house of the Legislature.

• Freezes salaries for state officers (Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, and others) to prevent them from receiving increases resulting from judicial salary adjustments under House Joint Resolution No. 1096, O.S.L. 2014 or this act.

• Prevents Workers' Compensation Commission commissioners from receiving salary increases from the judicial compensation provisions, maintaining their salary equal to that of a district judge.

• Authorizes the Oklahoma Supreme Court to make necessary payments, including retroactive payments from July 1, 2014, to ensure judges and justices receive full annual salaries; bill becomes effective July 1, 2015 and declares an emergency.