LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 78TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

February 12, 2003

TO:	Honorable Glenn Lewis, Chair, House Committee on County Affairs
FROM:	John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB465 by Talton (Relating to the fee a county may collect for handling court registry funds.), As Introduced

No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would amend Section 117.055(a), Local Government Code to decrease from 5 percent not to exceed $50 to 3 percent not to exceed $30 as the amount a county clerk is authorized to collect for handling court registry funds that have not earned interest. The bill would take effect September 1, 2003.

Local Government Impact

Counties in which the registry funds are processed under Local Government Code 117.054 instead of 117.055 would experience no fiscal impact; however, those counties that process registry funds under 117.055 would experience a loss in revenue. For example, Dallas County collected $37,517 from court registry fees in fiscal year 2002. Assuming a similar number of withdrawals in fiscal year 2004 at the proposed 3 percent of the withdrawal not to exceed $30, the county would collect $22,510 in fees in fiscal year 2004, a decrease of $15,007.

Hays County collected $3,250 from court registry fees in fiscal year 2002. Assuming a similar number of withdrawals in fiscal 2004 at the proposed 3 percent of the withdrawal not to exceed $30, the county would collect $1,950 in fees in fiscal 2004, a decrease of $1,300.

Counties that process registry funds under Local Government Code 117.055(a) would experience a revenue loss of 2 percent of the amounts usually collected for processing court registry fees. The total reduced revenue amount would vary by county and would depend on the amounts of withdrawals.

Source Agencies:	304 Comptroller Of Public Accounts
LBB Staff:	JK, JB, DLBa