LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE, 76th Regular Session February 24, 1999 TO: Honorable Senfronia Thompson, Chair, House Committee on Judicial Affairs FROM: John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE: HB400 by Thompson (Relating to the creation of certain district courts), As Introduced ************************************************************************** * Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB400, As * * Introduced: negative impact of $(762,486) 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. * ************************************************************************** General Revenue-Related Funds, Five-Year Impact: **************************************************** * Fiscal Year Probable Net Positive/(Negative) * * Impact to General Revenue Related * * Funds * * 2000 $(381,243) * * 2001 (381,243) * * 2002 (381,243) * * 2003 (381,243) * * 2004 (381,243) * **************************************************** All Funds, Five-Year Impact: *************************************************************************** *Fiscal Probable Savings/(Cost) from Change in Number of State * * Year General Revenue Fund Employees from FY 1999 * * 0001 * * 2000 $(381,243) 3.0 * * 2001 (381,243) 3.0 * * 2002 (381,243) 3.0 * * 2003 (381,243) 3.0 * * 2004 (381,243) 3.0 * *************************************************************************** Fiscal Analysis This bill would create the 405th Judicial District in Harris County, the 406th Judicial District in Bexar County, and the 407th Judicial District in Fort Bend County. The 405th Judicial District would give preference to juvenile matters. These Judicial Districts would be created effective September 1, 1999. Methodology * The cost of the salary and benefits of a district judge to the state is $127,081. * The annual operating cost of the 406th Judicial District in Bexar County would be $122,317. The annual operating cost of the 407th Judicial District in Fort Bend County would be $148,176. The annual operating cost of the 405th Judicial District in Harris County would be $1,749,372. The operating cost of the 405th Judicial District includes $466,027 per year in probation department expenses. * Harris County would have a one-time capital cost of $40,000. Fort Bend County would have a one-time capital cost of $20,000. Bexar County would have no capital costs. * Information from the Comptroller of Public Accounts was used to determine the salary and benefit levels of district court judges. Information from the Auditor's offices of Harris, Bexar and Fort Bend Counties was used to determine capital and operating costs. Local Government Impact * During FY 2000, the total cost to Harris County would be $1,789,372. During FY 2001, and each year thereafter, the cost would be $1,749,372. * During FY 2000, the total cost to Fort Bend County would be $168,176. During FY 2001, and each year thereafter, the cost would be $148,176. * During FY 2000, and each year thereafter, the total cost to Bexar County would be $122,317. Source Agencies: LBB Staff: JK, PE, DG