LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE 74th Regular Session May 3, 1995 TO: Honorable Senfronia Thompson, Chair IN RE: Committee Substitute Committee on Judicial Affairs for House of Representatives HouseBill No. Austin, Texas 3203 By: Puente FROM: John Keel, Director In response to your request for a Fiscal Note on House Bill No. 3203 (Relating to the election of municipal court of record judges in San Antonio.) this office has determined the following: The bill would establish provisions for the election of 10 full- time municipal court of record judges and the appointment of part-time municipal court of record judges for the City of San Antonio. The bill would require the City of San Antonio, by charter, to have an election for 10 full-time municipal court of record judges from single-member districts. The bill would require the judges to live within the districts from which they are elected and would require the city council to base the districts on the boundaries of city council districts. Terms of service would be for four years. The bill would require the city council to appoint part-time municipal court of record judges. The part-time judges would serve at the will of the majority of the full-time judges and would not serve a term. A vacancy in the office of a part-time judge would be filled in the same manner as the original appointment. Currently there are 10 full-time judges and six part-time judges working in municipal courts of record in San Antonio. This estimate assumes that the bill would not authorize 20 full-time judges, but would replace the existing 10 full-time judges elected from single-member districts. Unless more than 6 part- time judges are hired under the provisions of this bill, there would be no fiscal implication to the City of San Antonio for judges salaries. The bill would create the need for special elections in 1997 and 1999. The cost of a special election to the City of San Antonio would range from approximately $200,000 to $350,000 per election. No fiscal implication to the state is anticipated. Source: LBB Staff: JK, BR, RR