| TO: | Honorable Will Hartnett, Chair, House Committee on Judiciary |
| FROM: | John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board |
| IN RE: | HB840 by Chavez (Relating to the creation of additional county criminal courts at law in El Paso County.), As Introduced |
The bill would amend Section 25.0731 (a) of the Government Code to create two additional county criminal courts at law in
The bill would take effect September 1, 2007.
If the new judges choose not to engage in the private practice of law and the county meets the other provisions of Section 25.0015, Government Code, the state impact would be $70,000, annually for supplemental salaries.
Currently, El Paso County is served by seven county courts at law and two county criminal courts at law. According to the El Paso County Auditor's Office, the establishment of two additional county criminal courts would result in the county being responsible for the salaries and benefits of the court's judge, bailiff, certified court reporter, court coordinator, three trial attorneys, court clerk, office specialist and collection clerk totaling $562,867 annually, per court. The auditor's office estimated operating and equipment expenses of $26,159 annually, per court.
El Paso County's fiscal year begins on October 1. For fiscal 2008, it is assumed that the proposed county criminal courts at law would be in start-up mode and would generate about the same amount of revenue that each of the other county courts generate; therefore, no additional revenue would be available to offset the cost of the additional county courts. In the future, it is assumed that improved caseload management brought about by the creation of two new criminal county courts at law could result in higher revenues; however, the amount of increased revenues cannot be estimated.
| Source Agencies: | 212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council, 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts
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| LBB Staff: | JOB, MN, ZS, DB
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