LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
FISCAL NOTE
75th Regular Session
April 18, 1997
TO: Honorable Senfronia Thompson, Chair IN RE: House Bill No. 3560, Committee Report 1st House, Substituted
Committee on Judicial Affairs By: Goodman
House
Austin, Texas
FROM: John Keel, Director
In response to your request for a Fiscal Note on HB3560 ( Relating
to salary supplements from the state for certain county attorneys
and county judges.) this office has detemined the following:
Biennial Net Impact to General Revenue Funds by HB3560-Committee Report 1st House, Substituted
Implementing the provisions of the bill would result in a net
negative impact of $(1,780,000) 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 a $5,000 annual state
supplement for county judges, if at least 40% of the functions
the judge performs are judicial functions, and would entitle
county attorneys who do not have general felony jurisdiction
to an annual state supplement as set out in the General Appropriations
Act.
The bill would take effect September 1, 1997.
Fiscal Analysis
It is estimated that 76 of the 254 counties in Texas have county
courts at law which handle most of the county's judicial matters.
The comptroller estimates that the maximum number of county
judges that would qualify for the supplement is 178.
The
bill would also entitle a county attorney who does not have
general felony jurisdiction to a state supplement as set out
in the appropriations bill. The fiscal implications to the
state would depend on the amount set by the Legislature.
Methodolgy
Assuming there are 178 county judges eligible for the $5,000
annual state supplement, the state would incur liability for
$890,000 for supplements for county judges.
Currently, the
comptroller estimates there are 175 county attorneys that would
be eligible for the state supplement, as determined in the appropriations
bill.
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
1998 ($890,000) 0.0
1998 (890,000) 0.0
2000 (890,000) 0.0
2001 (890,000) 0.0
2002 (890,000) 0.0
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
1998 ($890,000)
1999 (890,000)
2000 (890,000)
2001 (890,000)
2002 (890,000)
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: 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts
LBB Staff: JK ,PE ,DC