LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
 
FISCAL NOTE, 80TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
 
February 22, 2007

TO:
Honorable Will Hartnett, Chair, House Committee on Judiciary
 
FROM:
John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
 
IN RE:
HB1406 by Flores (Relating to the State Bar of Texas fee to provide legal services to the indigent.), As Introduced



The bill would amend Government Code § 81.054(j) to continue the collection of a $65 additional legal services fee paid by Texas attorneys each year as part of their bar dues by striking the expiration clause for this subsection.  The fee would otherwise expire on September 1, 2007.  Half the fees collected go to the Fair Defense Account for use by the Task Force on Indigent Defense while the other half goes to the Judicial Fund to support civil legal services for the indigent.

The bill would take immediate effect if the bill receives the vote of two-thirds of the members of each House.  Otherwise, the bill would take effect September 1, 2007.




Fiscal Year Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds
2008 $0
2009 $0
2010 $0
2011 $0
2012 $0




Fiscal Year Probable Revenue Gain/(Loss) from
JUDICIAL FUND
573 		Probable Revenue Gain/(Loss) from
FAIR DEFENSE
5073
2008 $1,908,000 $1,908,000
2009 $1,908,000 $1,908,000
2010 $1,908,000 $1,908,000
2011 $1,908,000 $1,908,000
2012 $1,908,000 $1,908,000

Fiscal Analysis

The bill would amend Government Code § 81.054(j) to continue the collection of a $65 legal services fee paid by Texas attorneys each year as part of bar dues by striking the expiration clause for this subsection.  The fee would otherwise expire on September 1, 2007.  Half the fees collected go to the Fair Defense Account for use by the Task Force on Indigent Defense while the other half goes to the Judicial Fund to support civil legal services for the indigent.

The bill would take immediate effect if the bill receives the vote of two-thirds of the members of each House.  Otherwise, the bill would take effect September 1, 2007.


Methodology

Estimates for the continuation of this fee are based on the FY 2007 estimates for the legal services fee included in the Comptroller's 2008-09 Biennial Revenue Estimate.

Local Government Impact

No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.


Source Agencies:
212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council, 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts
LBB Staff:
JOB, MN, ZS, TB