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
  
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*  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:
  
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*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