LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                                   Austin, Texas
         
                                   FISCAL NOTE
                               

75th Regular Session
         
                                  April 30, 1997
         
         
      TO: Honorable Senfronia Thompson, Chair            IN RE:  House Bill No. 844, Committee Report 1st House, Substituted
          Committee on Judicial Affairs                              By: McReynolds
          House
          Austin, Texas
         
         
         
         
         FROM:  John Keel, Director    
         
In response to your request for a Fiscal Note on HB844 ( Relating 
to the creation of the office of district attorney for Judicial 
District 1-A and to the abolition of the jurisdiction of the 
district attorney for the 1st judicial District in Newton County.) 
this office has detemined the following:
         
         Biennial Net Impact to General Revenue Funds by HB844-Committee Report 1st House, Substituted   FN Revision 1
         
Implementing the provisions of the bill would result in a net 
negative impact of $(62,128) to General Revenue Related Funds 
through the biennium ending August 31, 1999.
         
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 Judicial District 1-A in Newton County.  The new 
district attorney would be elected in 1998 and take office in 
January of 1999.   The 1st Judicial District would then be comprised 
of Sabine and San Augustine counties.
         
 
Fiscal Analysis
 
The bill would create a new district attorney position with 
state paid salary and benefits.
 
Methodolgy
 
The annual salary and benefits of a district attorney who is 
not within the professional prosecutors act is $93,191 annually. 
 The new D.A. would take office in January of 1999.  That would 
be $7,766 a month times 8 months, or $62,128 in fiscal year 
1999, and $93,191 annually thereafter. 
The probable fiscal implications of implementing the provisions 
of the bill during each of the first five years following passage 
is estimated as follows:
 
Five Year Impact:
 
Fiscal Year Probable           Change in Number   
            Savings/(Cost)     of State                                                                   
            from General       Employees from                                                             
            Revenue Fund       FY 1997                                                                    
            0001                                                                                           
       1999         ($62,128)               1.0                                                      
       1999          (93,919)               1.0                                                      
       2001          (93,191)               1.0                                                      
       2002          (93,191)               1.0                                                      
       2003          (93,191)               1.0                                                      
 
 
         Net Impact on General Revenue Related Funds:
 
The probable fiscal implication to General Revenue related funds 
during each of the first five years is estimated as follows:
 
              Fiscal Year      Probable Net Postive/(Negative)
                               General Revenue Related Funds
                                             Funds
               1999            ($62,128)
               2000             (93,919)
               2001             (93,191)
               2002             (93,191)
               2003             (93,191)
 
Similar annual fiscal implications would continue as long as 
the provisions of the bill are in effect.
          
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government 
is anticipated.
          
   Source:            Agencies:   
                                         
                      LBB Staff:   JK ,PE ,DC