LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                          Austin, Texas

                           FISCAL NOTE
                       74th Regular Session

                           May 2, 1995



 TO:     Honorable Don Henderson, Chair         IN RE:  House BillNo. 2574,
         Committee on Jurisprudence                           as engrossed
         Senate                                         By: Uher, et al.
         Austin, Texas








FROM: John Keel, Director

In response to your request for a Fiscal Note on House Bill No.
2574 (Relating to the responsibilities of the Matagorda County
Attorney and creating the office of district attorney for the
329th Judicial District in Wharton County.) this office has
determined the following:

The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal
basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions
of the bill.

The bill would create the office of district attorney for the
329th Judicial District composed of Wharton County and would
outline the responsibilities of the Matagorda County Attorney. 
The new district attorney would be subject to the Professional
Prosecutors Law.

Under the provisions of the bill, the state could incur costs of
$99,868 for the salary and benefits of a district attorney as
well as the $27,650 annual supplement for office expenses.  

Matagorda County could incur costs for an increase in the
county's share of the district attorney's office and personnel
expenses.  The amount is dependent on decisions of local
officials and cannot be determined.  Wharton County could incur
costs for the salaries and benefits of the district attorney's
staff.  The costs for salaries and benefits for a secretary and
investigator would total approximately $45,000 annually.    




 The probable fiscal implication of implementing the provisions
of the bill during each of the first  five years following
passage is estimated as follows:



            Fiscal  Probable Cost Out 
             Year      of  General    
                     Revenue Fund 001 
                                      
          1996                $127,518
          1997                 127,518
                                      
          1998                 127,518
                                      
          1999                 127,518
          2000                 127,518
                                      
                                      
                                      
       Similar annual fiscal implications would continue as long as the
provisions of the bill are in effect.




Source:   Comptroller of Public Accounts
          LBB Staff: JK, BR, RR