LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE 75th Regular Session April 16, 1997 TO: Honorable Senfronia Thompson, Chair IN RE: House Bill No. 3560 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-As Introduced Implementing the provisions of the bill would result in a net negative impact of $(1,190,000) 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 also create a $2,500 state supplement for county attorneys, other than county attorneys who represent the state in district court. Fiscal Analysis The bill would fund a new state supplement for constitutional county judges who spend 40% of their time on judicial duties. The bill would also fund a new state supplement for county attorneys, however, no county attorney would be eligible for the supplement under the current provisions of the bill, since all county attorneys may represent the state in district court. Methodolgy The Office of Court Administration conducted a survey of the constitutional county judges. Of the judges who responded, 46.97 percent, or an estimated 119, said they spent 40% or more of their time on judicial matters. 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 ($595,000) 0.0 1998 (595,000) 0.0 2000 (595,000) 0.0 2001 (595,000) 0.0 2002 (595,000) 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 ($595,000) 1999 (595,000) 2000 (595,000) 2001 (595,000) 2002 (595,000) Similar annual fiscal implications would continue as long as the provisions of the bill are in effect. No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated. Source: Agencies: 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts LBB Staff: JK ,PE ,DC