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: HB3169 by Thompson (Relating to the composition of the courts of appeals.), As Introduced ************************************************************************** * Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for * * HB3169, As Introduced: positive impact of $30,966,784 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 * * 2003 $30,966,784 * * 2004 46,450,177 * * 2005 46,450,177 * * 2006 46,450,177 * * 2007 46,450,177 * **************************************************** All Funds, Five-Year Impact: *************************************************************************** *Fiscal Probable Savings/(Cost) from Change in Number of State * * Year General Revenue Fund Employees from FY 2002 * * 0001 * * 2003 $30,966,784 (277.0) * * 2004 46,450,177 (416.0) * * 2005 46,450,177 (416.0) * * 2006 46,450,177 (416.0) * * 2007 46,450,177 (416.0) * *************************************************************************** Fiscal Analysis The bill would repeal provisions of Chapter 22 of the Government Code which would eliminate the 14 courts of appeals. The bill would divide the state into two court of appeals districts, 1-A and 2-A, with a court of appeals in each district. District 1-A would encompass 182 counties, and District 2-A would encompass 72 counties. This bill would take effect December 31, 2003. Methodology The estimate assumes that the current courts of appeals would be abolished at an annual savings to the state of $46.5 million per year. However, any costs associated with the operation of the two new judicial districts have not been considered in this estimate. The costs or savings related to the cessation of the current rates of adjudication of civil or criminal appeals have not been considered in this estimate. Additionally, the costs relating to the loss of fees collections from appellate courts have not been considered in this estimate. Local Government Impact The costs or savings to local government would vary by county depending on the impact of the cessation of the current rates of adjudication of civil or criminal appeals per county. Source Agencies: 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts, 212 Office of Court Administration LBB Staff: JK, TB, JN