LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
 
FISCAL NOTE, 78TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
 
March 13, 2003

TO:
Honorable Robert Duncan, Chair, Senate Committee on Jurisprudence
 
FROM:
John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
 
IN RE:
SB88 by Wentworth (Relating to the application of the professional prosecutors law to the district attorney for the 25th Judicial District.), As Introduced



Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for SB88, As Introduced: a negative impact of ($14,803) through the biennium ending August 31, 2005.

The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill.



Fiscal Year Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds
2004 $0
2005 ($14,803)
2006 ($22,205)
2007 ($22,205)
2008 ($22,205)




Fiscal Year Probable Savings/(Cost) from
GENERAL REVENUE FUND
1
2004 $0
2005 ($14,803)
2006 ($22,205)
2007 ($22,205)
2008 ($22,205)

Fiscal Analysis

The bill would amend Government Code, Section 46.002 to place the district attorney for the 25th Judicial District under the Professional Prosecutors Act (PPA). The 25th Judicial District serves Gonzales, Guadalupe and Lavaca counties.

A state prosecutor from the 25th Judicial District, who is not currently under the PPA, receives a salary equivalent to approximately 80 percent of that received by a state prosecutor practicing in judicial districts that are subject to the PPA.

The bill would take effect January 1, 2005.


Methodology

The current annual cost to the state for a district attorney under the PPA is $152,800, which includes salary, benefits and a $34,450 office expense allowance. The annual cost for a district attorney who is not under the PPA and serves in a multi-county judicial jurisdiction is $130,595, which also includes salary, benefits and a $34,450 office expense allowance.  Accordingly, the annual difference in costs to the state between a district attorney serving in a multi-county judicial district under the PPA and one who is not under the PPA is $22,205.

The bill would not be in effect for fiscal year 2004 and would be in effect for only eight months in fiscal year 2005.  In fiscal years thereafter, the bill would cost the state $22,205 annually.


Local Government Impact

No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.


Source Agencies:
304 Comptroller Of Public Accounts
LBB Staff:
JK, KG, SD, GO, VDS, TB