LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 78TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

February 24, 2003

TO:	Honorable Will Hartnett, Chair, House Committee on Judicial Affairs
FROM:	John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB327 by McCall (Relating to the creation of an additional county court at law in Collin County.), As Introduced

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated. 

The bill would amend Government Code, Section 25.0451 to create an additional county court at law in Collin County. Under Government Code, Section 25.0015 the state will provide a $5,000 annual salary supplement from the General Revenue Fund to the judge of the new county court at law, provided Collin County collects additional fees and costs authorized under Government Code, Section 51.702.

The bill would take effect and the County Court at Law No. 6 of Collin County would be created on January 1, 2005.

Local Government Impact

The Collin County Auditor provided an estimate of local costs, which would include salaries and benefits for court personnel ($569,694) and annual operating costs ($17,000).  There would also be a one-time capital set-up cost of $64,112.  The total cost to Collin County for FY 2005 (pro-rated for eight months instead of 12) is estimated at $455,241.  In FY 2006 and thereafter, the estimated cost would be $586,694.

Source Agencies:	212 Office Of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council, 304 Comptroller Of Public Accounts
LBB Staff:	JK, SD, GO, VDS, TB, KG