LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE, 77th Regular Session April 20, 2001 TO: Honorable Senfronia Thompson, Chair, House Committee on Judicial Affairs FROM: John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE: HB3678 by Gray (Relating to the creation of an additional statutory county court in Galveston County and to the administration, operation, and jurisdiction of the statutory courts in that county.), As Introduced ************************************************************************** * No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated. * ************************************************************************** The bill would create an additional county court in Galveston County. The bill would grant the new statutory county court the same jurisdiction as a district court, excluding election contests and most felony cases. The bill would require that the judge of a statutory county court be paid an annual salary that is not less than the total annual salary, including supplements and contributions, paid to a district judge in the county. The bill would repeal Section 25.0862(i) of the Government Code which currently allows a special judge of a statutory county court or probate court to be appointed or elected and to receive the same rate of compensation as a regular judge. It would also repeal Section 25.0862(l) which allows court reporters from certain courts to be available to report cases in certain other courts. The bill would require a deputy sheriff to attend County Courts No. 1, 2, or 3 and the Probate Court when required by the judge. Finally, if a jury trial is requested, the bill would require that the jury be composed of six members, unless the constitution requires a 12-member jury. This bill would take effect September 1, 2001 and the new court would be created October 1, 2001. Local Government Impact Currently, Galveston County operates two statutory county courts, a probate court, and an impact court. According to the Galveston County Office of Justice Administration, the impact court functions as a half-time county court. Because the half-time impact court would be absorbed into the proposed full-time County Court No. 3, the cost of creating a new county court would be approximately half of the normal cost of such court. The Galveston County Office of Justice Administration, the County Sheriff's Department, and the County Community Services Division assisted in the preparation of this fiscal estimate. The bill would require a deputy sheriff to attend county court or probate court only when required by the judge. A deputy sheriff's presence would not be required in many hearings, so no additional deputy sheriff positions would be anticipated. The bill would require the following full-time staff: a county judge, a court reporter, a court coordinator, and a bailiff, for a total annual expense of $268,900. Current expenditures for these positions in the half-time Impact Court amount to $98,400 annually. Personnel currently serving the Impact Court, such as a prosecuting district attorney, secretary, county civil clerk, and county criminal clerk, would serve the new county court at no additional expense. Operating costs are estimated at $125,000. The total cost for operating the new court is estimated at $507,264. This is an increase of $261,000 over the current cost of $246,264 for operating the Impact Court. Source Agencies: 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts LBB Staff: JK, TB, DB