LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE, 77th Regular Session March 16, 2001 TO: Honorable Senfronia Thompson, Chair, House Committee on Judicial Affairs FROM: John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE: HB387 by Luna, Vilma (Relating to pro bono community service programs to provide legal services to the public and to participation in those programs for continuing legal education credit.), As Introduced ************************************************************************** * Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for * * HB387, As Introduced: negative impact of $(245,000) through the * * biennium ending August 31, 2003. * * * * 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 * * 2002 $(131,800) * * 2003 (113,200) * * 2004 (113,200) * * 2005 (113,200) * * 2006 (113,200) * **************************************************** All Funds, Five-Year Impact: *************************************************************************** *Fiscal Probable Savings/(Cost) from Change in Number of State * * Year General Revenue Fund Employees from FY 2001 * * 0001 * * 2002 $(131,800) 3.0 * * 2003 (113,200) 3.0 * * 2004 (113,200) 3.0 * * 2005 (113,200) 3.0 * * 2006 (113,200) 3.0 * *************************************************************************** Fiscal Analysis The bill would authorize the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) to develop a pro bono community service program to provide legal services to the public. Attorneys participating in the pro bono program would be eligible to receive credit toward continuing legal education requirements. Methodology The OAG estimates that the cost to develop and implement the program would be $131,800 in the first year, with an ongoing cost of $113,200 in future years for 3 full-time-equivalent employees to administer the program. The OAG estimates that the agency would need one attorney, one legal assistant, and one legal secretary to administer the program. This estimate is based on information from another local volunteer legal services program in Austin which provides pro bono services to Travis and surrounding counties. That program employs 6 people to administer the pro bono program. Local Government Impact No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated. Source Agencies: 302 Office of the Attorney General LBB Staff: JK, TB, SC