(a) The commission shall have the following duties:
(1) To review the conditions, needs, issues, and problems related to the efficient use of resources and caseload balance of the justice system in this state and the compensation paid to justices, judges, district attorneys, and circuit public defenders; issue a report on the same to the executive counsel of the Governor, the Office of Planning and Budget, and the chairpersons of the House Committee on Appropriations, the Senate Appropriations Committee, the House Committee on Judiciary, and the Senate Judiciary Committee; and recommend any action or proposed legislation which the commission deems necessary or appropriate. Nothing contained in the commission's report shall be considered to authorize or require a change in any law without action by the General Assembly. The commission shall issue its first report on or before December 15, 2015, its second report on or before December 15, 2016, and thereafter at least every two years; and
(2) To evaluate and consider:
(A) Whether the compensation structure of this state is adequate to ensure that the most highly qualified attorneys in this state, drawn from diverse life and professional experiences, are not deterred from serving or continuing to serve in the state judiciary, as district attorneys, and as circuit public defenders and do not become demoralized during service because of compensation levels;
(B) The compensation paid as a county supplement to judges, district attorneys, circuit public defenders, and other staff associated with the courts;
(C) The caseload demands of judicial officers, prosecuting attorneys, and public defenders and the allocation of such officials, including staffing resources and jurisdictional structure;
(D) The skill and experience required of the particular judgeships or attorney positions at issue;
(E) The time required of the particular judgeships or attorney positions at issue;
(F) The value of compensable service performed by justices and judges, district attorneys, and circuit public defenders as determined by reference to compensation in other states and the federal government;
(G) The value of comparable service performed in the private sector, including private judging, arbitration, and mediation, based on the responsibility and discretion required in the particular judgeship at issue and the demand for those services in the private sector;
(H) The compensation of attorneys in the private sector;
(I) The Consumer Price Index and changes in such index;
(J) The overall compensation presently received by other public officials and employees; and
(K) Any other factors that are normally or traditionally taken into consideration in the determination of compensation.
(b) The commission shall have the following powers:
(1) To make findings, conclusions, and recommendations as to the proper salary and benefits for all justices and judges, district attorneys, and circuit public defenders of this state;
(2) To make findings, conclusions, and recommendations as to the efficient use of resources and caseload balance of the justice system in this state;
(3) To request and receive data from and review the records of appropriate state agencies, local governments, and courts to the greatest extent allowed by state and federal law;
(4) To accept public or private grants, devises, and bequests;
(5) To authorize entering into contracts or agreements through the commission's chairperson necessary or incidental to the performance of its duties;
(6) To establish rules and procedures for conducting the business of the commission; and
(7) To conduct studies, hold public meetings, collect data, or take any other action the commission deems necessary to fulfill its responsibilities.
(c) The commission shall be authorized to retain the services of attorneys, consultants, subject matter experts, economists, budget analysts, data analysts, statisticians, and other individuals or organizations as determined appropriate by the commission.
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