LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 80TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

February 27, 2007

TO:	Honorable Byron Cook, Chair, House Committee on Civil Practices
FROM:	John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB1130 by Leibowitz (Relating to civil actions against persons who file complaints with governmental agencies.), As Introduced

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would amend the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code to create a new civil action against persons who file bad faith complaints with governmental agencies or quasi-governmental entities. According to the Office of the Attorney General, neither governmental agencies (nor quasi-governmental entities) nor their officials and employees, acting in the course of their duties, can be defendants under this new action. To the extent the bill would change procedures in civil actions, the fiscal implication to the State is not anticipated to be significant. The bill would take effect September 1, 2007.

Local Government Impact

Costs to local governmental entities would depend upon the number of cases filed in any given fiscal year.

Source Agencies:

212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council, 302 Office of the Attorney General

LBB Staff:

JOB, MN, ZS, TB, KJG