LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
 
FISCAL NOTE, 79TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
 
April 6, 2005

TO:
Honorable Jeff Wentworth, Chair, Senate Committee on Jurisprudence
 
FROM:
John S. O'Brien, Deputy Director, Legislative Budget Board
 
IN RE:
SB1492 by Williams (Relating to the fee for the issuance of an attorney's license or certificate.), As Introduced



Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for SB1492, As Introduced: an impact of $0 through the biennium ending August 31, 2007.



Fiscal Year Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds
2006 $0
2007 $0
2008 $0
2009 $0
2010 $0




Fiscal Year Probable Revenue Gain/(Loss) from
LOCAL FUNDS
8888
2006 $385,000
2007 $385,000
2008 $385,000
2009 $385,000
2010 $385,000

Fiscal Analysis

The bill would amend Chapter 51 of the Government Code relating to the fee for the issuance of an attorney’s license or certificate.  The bill would increase the license fee to practice law from $10 to $150, and provides that fees are expended by the supreme court for the preparation and issuance of the license or certificate.

 

Because the bill would raise revenue in a local account for a limited purpose, no significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

 

The bill would take effect September 1, 2005.


Methodology

The bill would increase revenue to a local account held outside of the state treasury for the purpose of preparing and issuing licenses.  The State Bar of Texas reports that it expects the court to issue approximately 2,750 new licenses in 2005.  Accordingly, this estimate assumes that the supreme court clerk would collect an additional $385,000 in fiscal year 2006 and each year thereafter.  (2,750 licenses x $140 fee increase = $385,000)


Local Government Impact

No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.


Source Agencies:
201 Supreme Court of Texas, 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts
LBB Staff:
JOB, LB, ZS, TB