| TO: | Honorable Robert Duncan, Chair, Senate Committee on Jurisprudence |
| FROM: | John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board |
| IN RE: | SB1551 by Duncan (Relating to the creation and composition of judicial districts and the election and powers and duties of certain district attorneys.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted |
| Fiscal Year | Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds |
|---|---|
| 2004 | $0 |
| 2005 | $0 |
| 2006 | ($1,293,650) |
| 2007 | ($1,293,650) |
| 2008 | ($1,293,650) |
| Fiscal Year | Probable Savings/(Cost) from GENERAL REVENUE FUND 1 |
Change in Number of State Employees from FY 2003 |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | $0 | 0.0 |
| 2005 | $0 | 0.0 |
| 2006 | ($1,293,650) | 10.0 |
| 2007 | ($1,293,650) | 10.0 |
| 2008 | ($1,293,650) | 10.0 |
The bill would amend Government Code, Chapter 24 to create the following ten new judicial districts: the 413th Judicial District composed of Johnson County; the 414th Judicial District composed of McLennan County; the 415th Judicial District composed of Parker County; the 416th, 417th and 418th Judicial Districts composed of Collin County; the 419th Judicial District composed of Travis County; the 420th Judicial District composed of Nacogdoches County; the 421st Judicial District composed of Caldwell County; and the 422nd Judicial District composed of Kaufman County.
The 417th Judicial District would give preference to juvenile matters. All of the judicial districts would be created on September 1, 2005. The bill would take effect September 1, 2005.
The salary of a district court judge is currently $101,700 annually. Associated benefits for the position are estimated to be $27,665 annually. Together salary and benefits for the district judge of the proposed court would be $129,365 in fiscal year 2004 and each year thereafter. All other costs are paid by the county.
The auditors in Caldwell, Collin, Johnson, Kaufman, McLennan, Nacogdoches, Parker, and Travis counties provided estimates of local costs, which would include salaries and benefits for ancillary court personnel and other operating expenses such as travel, training, consumable supplies, and initial capital outlays by the counties to provide courtroom space, furniture, and equipment.
Costs to the affected counties are as follows:
|
|
FY 2004 |
FY 2005 |
FY 2006 |
FY 2007 |
FY 2008 |
|
Caldwell |
$0 |
$0 |
($22,685) |
($22,685) |
($22,685) |
|
Collin |
$0 |
$0 |
($1,304,250) |
($1,814,551) |
($1,743,639) |
|
Johnson |
$0 |
$0 |
($622,000) |
($354,000) |
($354,000) |
|
Kaufman |
$0 |
$0 |
($177,150) |
($169,150) |
($169,150) |
|
McLennan |
$0 |
$0 |
($412,034) |
($182,345) |
($187,816) |
|
Nacogdoches |
$0 |
$0 |
($1,043,000) |
($543,000) |
($543,000) |
|
Parker |
$0 |
$0 |
($338,454) |
($338,309) |
($348,458) |
|
Travis |
$0 |
$0 |
($427,401) |
($283,901) |
($283,901) |
| Source Agencies: | 212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council, 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts
|
| LBB Staff: | JK, KG, JO, GO, VDS, TB
|