LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 79TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

April 5, 2005

TO:	Honorable Jeff Wentworth, Chair, Senate Committee on Jurisprudence
FROM:	John S. O'Brien, Deputy Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	SB242 by Wentworth (Relating to the creation of an additional judicial district in Hays County.), As Introduced

Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for SB242, As Introduced: a negative impact of ($248,513) through the biennium ending August 31, 2007.

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

General Revenue-Related Funds, Five-Year Impact:

Fiscal Year	Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds
2006	($118,854)
2007	($129,659)
2008	($129,659)
2009	($129,659)
2010	($129,659)

All Funds, Five-Year Impact:

Fiscal Year	Probable Revenue Gain/(Loss) from GENERAL REVENUE FUND 1	Change in Number of State Employees from FY 2005
2006	($118,854)	1.0
2007	($129,659)	1.0
2008	($129,659)	1.0
2009	($129,659)	1.0
2010	($129,659)	1.0

Fiscal Analysis

The bill would amend Chapter 24, Government Code, to create a new judicial district in Hays County, the 428th Judicial District.  The district would be created on the effective date of the bill, September 1, 2005.

Methodology

The annual salary provided by the state for a district judge is $101,700, plus benefits estimated at $27,959 annually.  The fiscal impact for the first year in which the court would exist has been prorated 11 months ($118,854).  Thereafter, the estimated annual salary and benefits for the district judge of the proposed court would be $129,659.  The county would pay all other costs.

Local Government Impact

According to information provided by the Hays County court administrator the county would incur a cost of $10,000 in fiscal year 2005 for set up costs because the Hays County fiscal year begins on October 1.  In fiscal year 2006 the cost to the county would rise to $145,000 annually, thereafter, the cost to the county is estimated to be $126,000 annually.

Costs to Hays County do not include offsetting revenue.  In the future, it is assumed that improved caseload management brought about by the creation of a new judicial district could result in higher revenues.

Source Agencies:

212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council, 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts

LBB Staff:

JOB, LB, ZS, ER