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An Act To Increase Judicial Salaries
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas,  current salaries for members of Maine's judiciary are among the lowest in the nation; and
Whereas,  the annual cost-of-living increases for judicial salaries required by law have not been implemented on a regular basis, thereby causing judicial salaries to lag behind intended salary levels recommended by the Judicial Compensation Commission in previous reports to the Legislature dating back to 1996; and
Whereas,  it is the recommendation of the Judicial Compensation Commission that increases in judicial salaries become effective July 1, 2009; and
Whereas,  in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore,
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 4 MRSA §4, sub-§1,  as amended by PL 1997, c. 643, Pt. M, §1, is further amended to read:
 
1. Chief justice; salary.   The Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court is entitled to receive a salary, for fiscal year 1998-992009-10 and thereafter, of $111,000$151,074, to be paid biweekly.
Sec. 2. 4 MRSA §4, sub-§2, ¶A,  as repealed and replaced by PL 1997, c. 643, Pt. M, §2, is amended to read:
 
A.  For fiscal year 1998-992009-10 and thereafter, $96,000$130,659, to be paid biweekly.
Sec. 3. 4 MRSA §102, sub-§1,  as amended by PL 1997, c. 643, Pt. M, §4, is further amended to read:
 
1. Chief justice; salary.   The Chief Justice of the Superior Court is entitled to receive a salary, for fiscal year 1998-992009-10 and thereafter, of $94,000$127,937, to be paid biweekly.
Sec. 4. 4 MRSA §102, sub-§2, ¶A,  as repealed and replaced by PL 1997, c. 643, Pt. M, §5, is amended to read:
 
A.  For fiscal year 1998-992009-10 and thereafter, $90,000$122,493, to be paid biweekly.
Sec. 5. 4 MRSA §157, sub-§2,  as amended by PL 1997, c. 643, Pt. M, §7, is further amended to read:
 
2. Chief Judge; salary.   The Chief Judge of the District Court is entitled to receive a salary, for fiscal year 1998-992009-10 and thereafter, of $94,000$127,937, to be paid biweekly.
Sec. 6. 4 MRSA §157, sub-§3,  as amended by PL 1997, c. 643, Pt. M, §8, is further amended to read:
 
3. Deputy Chief Judge; salary.   The Deputy Chief Judge of the District Court is entitled to receive a salary, for fiscal year 1998-992009-10 and thereafter, of $92,000$125,215, to be paid biweekly.
Sec. 7. 4 MRSA §157, sub-§4, ¶A,  as repealed and replaced by PL 1997, c. 643, Pt. M, §9, is amended to read:
 
A.  For fiscal year 1998-992009-10 and thereafter, $90,000$122,493, to be paid biweekly.
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation takes effect when approved.
 
SUMMARY
This bill, submitted by the Judicial Compensation Commission as part of its December 2008 report to the Legislature, increases judicial salaries to levels that would have been achieved if the recommendations made in the commission's 1996 report had been fully implemented.