LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
 
FISCAL NOTE, 80TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
 
May 21, 2007

TO:
Honorable Tom Craddick, Speaker of the House, House of Representatives
 
FROM:
John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
 
IN RE:
HB2766 by Eiland (Relating to the location at which certain courts may conduct proceedings following certain disasters.), As Passed 2nd House

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would amend the Government Code to authorize the presiding judge of the administrative judicial region, with approval of the judge of an affected court, to designate an alternate location in the district at which a district court may conduct its proceedings if the district court in a "first tier" or "second tier" coastal county is unable to conduct its proceedings in a county seat due to a disaster as defined by Section 418.004. The presiding judge of the administrative judicial region may also make a designation for a statutory county court, a county court, or a statutory probate court, located in a first tier or second tier coastal county in the same circumstance to conduct proceedings elsewhere, with approval of the judges of the affected courts.

The bill would take effect immediately if it were to receive the required two-thirds vote in each house; otherwise, it would take effect September 1, 2007.


Local Government Impact

The fiscal impact to the affected courts would vary depending on how many proceedings and accompanying records must be moved and any associated expenses; however, it is anticipated the costs would be less than if all proceedings were delayed. There may also be expenses to the courts in which the displaced courts must share courtrooms. Because it is unknown how many such disasters may occur and how many courts would be affected and for how long, the fiscal impact to units of local government is unknown.


Source Agencies:
212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council
LBB Staff:
JOB, MN, DB