Honorable Will Hartnett, Chair, House Committee on Judicial Affairs
FROM:
John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB496 by Hill (Relating to the payment of salaries, compensation, and expenses by counties comprising an administrative judicial region.), As Introduced
No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend Chapter 74, Government Code, to require the presiding judge of an administrative judicial region to present to the commissioners courts of each county in the judicial region a proposed budget for the region's next fiscal year. If the proposed budget is not higher than the previous year's budget, other than an increase resulting from the actual cost of professional liability insurance, the counties would be required to pay their proportional part of the budget. If there is an increase other than for professional liability insurance, the budget would be adopted only if approved by resolution or order of the commissioners courts representing counties that collectively paid at least 51 percent of the previous year's expenses not paid by the state. The bill would take effect immediately if it receives two-thirds vote in each house; otherwise, it would take effect September 1, 2003.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
Source Agencies:
212 Office Of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council, 304 Comptroller Of Public Accounts