The Senate Judiciary Committee met Tuesday afternoon to discuss seven bills on the committee’s agenda.
Senate Bill 398 relates to per diem compensation for senior judges or justices. The bill would fix the rate of per diem compensation for senior judges or justices by statute and limit the combined annual total of per diem compensation and retirement benefits that may be paid to a senior judge or justice. Currently they are paid $435 per day. The bill would drop it to $430 per day.
Senate Bill 399 relates to senior magistrates, and is in essence similar to Senate Bill 398. The bill would provide magistrates $200 per day for per diem.
Both bills were passed by the committee, and were referred to the Committee on Finance.
Senate Bill 369 relates to generic prescription drugs. The bill would require that when a pharmacist substitutes a drug, the patient shall receive the savings which shall be equal to the difference in acquisition cost of the product prescribed.
Senate Bill 373 relates to the Division of Corrections (DOC) and court ordered mandated for inmates. The bill would allow the DOC to subtract the monies from civil judgments and settlements to be paid towards court ordered obligations of inmates.
Senate Bill 361 would authorize the Public Defenders Services to create a habeas division for persons involved in habeas corpus.
Senate Bill 377 would exclude seasonal amusement park workers from the definition of “employee” for the purposes of maximum hours’ standard.
House Bill 2462 would allow correctional employees to carry, use and handle a firearm in performance of duties, including travel to and from work, after completion of same firearm training as law enforcement. They would be required to re-certify on a yearly basis.
The committee advanced all five bills, which were reported to the full Senate.
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