LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE, 76th Regular Session April 21, 1999 TO: Honorable Frank Madla, Chair, Senate Committee on Intergovernmental Relations FROM: John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE: SB 1718 by Ellis, Rodney (Relating to alternative dispute resolution systems established by counties.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted ************************************************************************** * No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated. * ************************************************************************** Local Government Impact The bill would allow the commissioners court of a county with a population of 2.5 million or more to set a court cost not to exceed $3 for civil cases filed in justice of the peace courts. This $3 cost would be used to establish and maintain an alternative dispute resolution system. According to Harris County, 62,561 civil cases were filed in 1998 the justice of the peace courts. Based on this number of cases, Harris County would expect to receive an additional $187,683 per year in additional revenue for an alternative dispute resolution system. Source Agencies: LBB Staff: JK, TL