LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
FISCAL NOTE, 76th Regular Session
May 6, 1999
TO: Honorable Rodney Ellis, Chair, Senate Committee on
Jurisprudence
FROM: John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE: HB400 by Thompson (Relating to the creation of certain
district courts.), As Engrossed
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* Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for *
* HB400, As Engrossed: negative impact of $(3,957,845) through the *
* biennium ending August 31, 2001. *
* *
* The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal *
* basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of *
* the bill. *
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General Revenue-Related Funds, Five-Year Impact:
****************************************************
* Fiscal Year Probable Net Positive/(Negative) *
* Impact to General Revenue Related *
* Funds *
* 2000 $(1,339,910) *
* 2001 (2,617,935) *
* 2002 (2,792,782) *
* 2003 (2,792,782) *
* 2004 (2,792,782) *
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All Funds, Five-Year Impact:
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*Fiscal Probable Savings/(Cost) from Change in Number of State *
* Year General Revenue Fund Employees from FY 1999 *
* 0001 *
* 2000 $(1,339,910) 22.0 *
* 2001 (2,617,935) 22.0 *
* 2002 (2,792,782) 22.0 *
* 2003 (2,792,782) 22.0 *
* 2004 (2,792,782) 22.0 *
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Fiscal Analysis
The bill would create twenty-two Judicial Districts, and make two
existing multi-county Judicial Districts into single-county Districts.
Methodology
The annual cost of the salary and benefits of a district judge to the
state is $127,081.
Six of the twenty-two Judicial Districts would be created effective
September 1, 1999 and cost the state the entire $127,081 during fiscal
year 2000. Two of the twenty-two Judicial Districts would be created
effective October 1, 1999 and cost the state $116,866 during fiscal year
2000. Four of the twenty-two Judicial Districts would be created
effective January 1, 2000 and would cost the state $85,923 during fiscal
year 2000. All of these courts would cost the state $127,081 in fiscal
year 2001 and each year thereafter.
Five of the twenty-two Judicial Districts would be created effective
September 1, 2000 and cost the state the entire $127,081 during fiscal
year 2001. One of the twenty-two Judicial Districts would be created
effective October 1, 2000 and cost the state $116,866 during fiscal year
2001. Four of the twenty-two Judicial Districts would be created
effective January 1, 2001 and would cost the state $85,923 during fiscal
year 2001. All of these courts would cost the state $127,081 in fiscal
year 2002 and each year thereafter.
The methodology assumes that the 408th Judicial District is created
January 1, 2000 as provided in Section 16 of the bill. Section 8 of the
bill amends the Government Code to define the jurisdiction and preference
of the 408th Judicial District on August 1, 2000. If August is
determined to be the creation date of the 408th Judicial District, then
the cost of the bill is reduced by $75,183 in fiscal year 2000.
The 114th and 294th Judicial Districts would become single-county
districts effective September 1, 2000. These districts would no longer
be eligible for the $1,500 travel allotment paid by the state to
districts composed of two counties. This would result in a savings to
the state of $3,000 in fiscal year 2001 and each year thereafter.
Information provided by the Comptroller of Public Accounts was used to
determine the salary and benefit levels of district court judges.
Local Government Impact
The counties gaining judicial districts would be responsible for the
operating and capital costs of the courts.
Source Agencies: 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts
LBB Staff: JK, PE, DG