LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
FISCAL NOTE, 77th Regular Session
March 26, 2001
TO: Honorable Senfronia Thompson, Chair, House Committee on
Judicial Affairs
FROM: John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE: HB3168 by Thompson (Relating to the composition of
judicial districts in this state.), As Introduced
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* Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for *
* HB3168, As Introduced: positive impact of $33,814,484 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. *
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General Revenue-Related Funds, Five-Year Impact:
****************************************************
* Fiscal Year Probable Net Positive/(Negative) *
* Impact to General Revenue Related *
* Funds *
* 2003 $33,814,484 *
* 2004 50,721,726 *
* 2005 50,721,726 *
* 2006 50,721,726 *
* 2007 50,721,726 *
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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 2002 *
* 0001 *
* 2003 $33,814,484 (273.0) *
* 2004 50,721,726 (409.0) *
* 2005 50,721,726 (409.0) *
* 2006 50,721,726 (409.0) *
* 2007 50,721,726 (409.0) *
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Fiscal Analysis
The bill would repeal Subchapters B through E of Chapter 24 of the
Government Code which would eliminate over 400 judicial districts in
Texas. The bill would establish two judicial districts, District A-1 and
District A-2. District A-1 would encompass 182 counties, and District
A-2 would encompass 72 counties.
The bill would take effect December 31, 2003.
Methodology
The estimate assumes that the elimination of the offices of 409 district
judges would result in an annual savings of $124,014 per judge in
salaries and benefits and would save the state over $50.7 million
annually. However, any costs associated with the operation of the two
new judicial districts have not been considered in this estimate.
Additionally, the costs or savings related to the cessation of current
rates of prosecution and incarceration have not been considered in this
estimate. Likewise, the costs or savings related to the cessation of
the current rates of adjudication of civil cases have not been
considered in this estimate. Finally, the costs relating to the loss of
fees collections from district courts have not been considered in this
estimate.
Local Government Impact
The elimination of 409 judicial districts would save counties over $91.5
million statewide. This estimate assumes that local government expends
an average of $223,640 annually to run each district court. Costs or
savings related to the cessation of adjudication of criminal and civil
cases have not been considered in this estimate.
Source Agencies: 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts, 212 Office of
Court Administration
LBB Staff: JK, TB, JN