Indicates Matter Stricken

Indicates New Matter

 

Committee Report

May 6, 2026

 

S. 1005

 

Introduced by Senators Elliott, Stubbs, Walker, Blackmon and Garrett

 

S. Printed 5/6/26--H.

Read the first time April 30, 2026

 

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The committee on House Ways and Means

To whom was referred a Bill (S. 1005) to amend the South Carolina Code of Laws by amending Section 14-1-200, relating to the establishment of salaries of Supreme Court justices and court of appeals, etc., respectfully

Report:

That they have duly and carefully considered the same, and recommend that the same do pass:

 

B.W. BANNISTER for Committee.

 

 

statement of estimated fiscal impact

Explanation of Fiscal Impact

State Expenditure

This bill increases the annual salary for family court judges from 92.5 percent of the salary for Associate Justices of the Supreme Court to 95 percent of the salary for Associate Justices of the Supreme Court. The bill also makes clarifying changes to references regarding judges of the circuit court and judges of the court of appeals.

Judicial reports that increasing the annual salary for family court judges to 95 percent of the salary for Associate Justices of the Supreme Court equates to a salary increase of $5,840 per year for 66 family court judges, resulting in a total increase in salary expenses of $385,440 beginning in FY 2026-27. Judicial further anticipates additional fringe expenses of $289,560 associated with the salary increase for 66 family court judges beginning in FY 2026-27. Therefore, this bill will increase expenditures for Judicial by at least $675,000 beginning in FY 2026-27. Judicial indicates that additional General Fund appropriations would be needed to implement the salary increase. To note, the increase in fringe expenses assumes that a one-time contribution is made to fund the JSRS and the employer contribution remains at 75 percent of employee salary.

PEBA indicates that the bill will have no expenditure impact on the agency, as the changes will be implemented with current staff and resources.

PEBA reports that the annual salary increase for family court judges under this bill would increase the unfunded actuarial accrued liability for the JSRS by approximately $3,896,000 and would reduce the funded ratio of the JSRS by 0.4 percent. Should the General Assembly choose to fund this increase, this bill would result in a one-time expenditure of approximately $3,896,000 in FY 2026-27. Absent one-time funding to cover the increase in the unfunded actuarial accrued liability, this bill would require the JSRS employer contribution rate to grow from 62.94 percent to 63.83 percent, an increase of 0.89 percent, in order to maintain the current funding period. This increase would apply to all 168 current active members of the JSRS employed by Judicial, CPC, CID, and ALC with a current systemwide payroll of approximately $36,800,000 per year. Therefore, a 0.89 percent increase in the employer contribution rate will increase employer contributions expenditures for these agencies by $327,500 beginning in FY 2026-27.

 

 

Frank A. Rainwater, Executive Director

Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office

 

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A bill

 

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 14-1-200, RELATING TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF SALARIES OF SUPREME COURT JUSTICES AND COURT OF APPEALS, CIRCUIT COURT, AND FAMILY COURT JUDGES, SO AS TO PROVIDE A REVISED SALARY SCHEDULE FOR JUDGES.

 

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

 

SECTION 1.  Section 14-1-200 of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

 

    Section 14-1-200.  The General Assembly shall establish the salary of the Chief Justice and Associate Justices of the Supreme Court in the annual general appropriation act with the salary of the Chief Justice to be one hundred five percent of the salary fixed for Associate Justices of the Supreme Court and shall fix the salaries for the court of appeals, circuit court, and family court according to the following schedule:

    (1) Thethe chief judge of the court of appeals shall receive a salary in an amount equal to ninety-nine percent of the salary fixed for Associate Justices of the Supreme Court;

    (2) Judgesjudges of the court of appeals shall receive a salary in an amount equal to ninety-seven and one-half percent of the salary fixed for Associate Justices of the Supreme Court, ;

    (3) and circuit court judges judges of the circuit court shall receive a salary in an amount equal to ninety-five percent of the salary fixed for Associate Justices of the Supreme Court; and

    (3)(4) Judges judges of the family court shall receive a salary in an amount equal to ninety-two and one-halfninety-five percent of the salary fixed for Associate Justices of the Supreme Court.

 

SECTION 2.  This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

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