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