LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 79TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

March 28, 2005

TO:	Honorable Will Hartnett, Chair, House Committee on Judiciary
FROM:	John S. O'Brien, Deputy Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB1622 by Pitts (Relating to the creation of a county court at law in Hill County.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted

No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would amend Chapters 24, 25, and 26 of the Government Code and Chapter 152 of the Human Resources Code to create a statutory county court at law in Hill County.  The bill would take effect on September 1, 2005.

Local Government Impact

Currently, Hill County has one district court and one constitutional county court; the bill would create a statutory court on September 1, 2005.  The county would be responsible for the annual salaries of the court's judge, shared secretary/coordinator, and court reporter.

The annual cost for the new constitutional county court would be $214,829 in addition to a one-time expenditure of $2,200 to set up the office. Currently, Hill County receives no revenues from statutory county court costs and fees.  The creation of a new court would result in revenues; however, the amount of the revenues cannot be estimated.  Hill County's fiscal year begins October 1.  The Hill County Court would be created on September 1, 2005; the fiscal impact for fiscal year 2005 would need to be prorated for one month.

Source Agencies:

304 Comptroller of Public Accounts

LBB Staff:

JOB, DLBa, LB, ZS, ER