LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 78TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

April 22, 2003

TO:	Honorable Will Hartnett, Chair, House Committee on Judicial Affairs
FROM:	John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HJR63 by Jones, Elizabeth (Proposing a constitutional amendment providing for appointment to fill vacancies in certain judicial offices and for nonpartisan retention elections for those offices.), As Introduced

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated, other than the cost of publication.

The cost to the state for publication of the resolution is $85,275.

The bill would amend the Texas Constitution relating to the partisan election method of judicial selection. The bill would establish a method of gubernatorial appointments for position vacancies with subsequent nonpartisan retention elections for all appellate and district courts. Gubernatorial appointments would also be subject to approval by the Senate or a committee of the Senate.

Although the bill would change the method of judicial selection, the frequency and cost of elections under the bill is not anticipated to vary significantly with the frequency and cost of elections in the current system; accordingly, other than the cost of publication, the fiscal implication to the state is not anticipated to be significant.

Local Government Impact

No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.

Source Agencies:	201 Supreme Court of Texas, 211 Court of Criminal Appeals, 212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council, 301 Office of the Governor, 307 Secretary of State
LBB Staff:	JK, KG, GO, VDS, TB