LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
FISCAL NOTE
75th Regular Session
April 17, 1997
TO: Honorable Bill Ratliff, Chair IN RE: Senate Bill No. 20
Committee on Finance By: Ratliff
Senate
Austin, Texas
FROM: John Keel, Director
In response to your request for a Fiscal Note on SB20 ( Relating
to the creation of certain district courts.) this office has
detemined the following:
Biennial Net Impact to General Revenue Funds by SB20-As Introduced
Implementing the provisions of the bill would result in a net
negative impact of $(2,526,480) 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.
Fiscal Analysis
The bill would create 12 new Judicial Districts: the 379th,
393rd, 395th, 396th and 397th Judicial Districts in Bexar County,
the 398th Judicial District in Cameron County, the 399th Judicial
District in El Paso County, the 400th Judicial District in Fort
Bend County, the 401st Judicial District in Harris County and
the 402nd, 403rd and 404th Judicial Districts in Travis County.
The bill would take effect September 1, 1997.
The bill would
create 12 new district courts with state liability for salary
and benefits for 12 judges. Bexar, Cameron, El Paso, Fort Bend,
Harris and Travis County would also have additional costs as
the result of the creation of these new district courts.
Methodolgy
Salary and benefits for each new district judge would be $105,270.
Twelve new district judges would be required. The bill would
result in additional costs to the state of $1,263,240 annually.
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 ($1,263,240) 12.0
1998 (1,263,240) 12.0
2000 (1,263,240) 12.0
2001 (1,263,240) 12.0
2002 (1,263,240) 12.0
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 ($1,263,240)
1999 (1,263,240)
2000 (1,263,240)
2001 (1,263,240)
2002 (1,263,240)
Similar annual fiscal implications would continue as long as
the provisions of the bill are in effect.
Local
Five new district courts would be created in Bexar County.
The fiscal year 1998 cost to Bexar County for the five new
courts is expected to be $1,110,280, with annual operating costs
of $853,415.
Cameron County officials anticipate the first
year cost will be $503,753, with annual operating costs of $353,753.
El Paso officials anticipate the new court will result
in costs of $141,531 annually to the county.
Fort Bend
County officials expect first year cost to be approximately
$708,229, and annual operating costs of $608,229.
Harris
County officials expect annual operating costs of $1,132,330.
Travis County officials expect that there will be a $1,223,910
cost to the county in fiscal year 1998 for three new courts,
and annual operating expenses of $1,080,870 thereafter.
Source: Agencies: 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts
LBB Staff: JK ,RR ,DC