Relating to and making appropriations to the judicial branch, including by modifying the judicial retirement fund, and including effective date provisions

If a trial is moved to another county that is located in another judicial district or judicial election district, the judicial officers serving the judicial district or judicial election district receiving the case shall preside over the case. The bill permits a judicial officer to waive travel reimbursement for any travel outside the judicial officer’s county of residence to conduct official business. The bill allows a judicial officer to be placed on unpaid leave on any day a court employee is required to furlough. The bill provides that if a judicial officer is placed on unpaid leave, the salary of the judicial officer shall be reduced accordingly for the pay period in which the unpaid leave occurred. The bill provides that the judicial branch may use an amount equal to the aggregate amount of the salary reductions due to judicial officer unpaid leave for any purpose other than judicial salaries. The bill states legislative intent that the judicial branch utilize the Iowa communications network or other secure electronic communications in lieu of traveling. The bill sets forth salaries for justices, judges, and magistrates. This provision takes effect June 21, 2024. JUDICIAL RETIREMENT FUND. The bill modifies the contribution rates for the judicial retirement fund. The bill redefines the term “judge’s required contribution” to mean an amount equal to the basic salary of the judge multiplied by percent of the required contribution rate, and the term “state’s required contribution” to mean an amount equal to the basic salary of all judges multiplied by percent of the required contribution rate. The bill prohibits the required contribution rate from varying by more than percentage point from the prior fiscal year. The bill’s contribution rates apply regardless of whether the judicial retirement fund is fully funded. DISTRICT JUDICIAL NOMINATING COMMISSIONS. Under current law, the governor appoints five eligible electors of each judicial district to each district’s 11-person district judicial nominating commission. The bill changes the number of electors appointed by the governor to six. Under current law, the most senior judge in the district serves as a commissioner and as the chairperson of that particular district judicial nominating commission. The bill removes the judge from the commission and from being chairperson and requires the members of each district judicial nominating commission to elect a chairperson from their own number. District judicial nominating commissions are responsible for screening applicants and selecting nominees for district court judicial vacancies. There is a nominating commission for each of Iowa’s judicial election subdistricts. District nominating commissions provide the governor with a slate of two nominees from which to make an appointment to the district court.