LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 80TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

April 30, 2007

TO:	Honorable Will Hartnett, Chair, House Committee on Judiciary
FROM:	John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	SB1519 by Wentworth (Relating to longevity pay for certain state judges and justices.), As Engrossed

Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for SB1519, As Engrossed: a negative impact of ($806,400) through the biennium ending August 31, 2009.

The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill.

General Revenue-Related Funds, Five-Year Impact:

Fiscal Year	Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds
2008	($403,200)
2009	($403,200)
2010	($403,200)
2011	($403,200)
2012	($403,200)

All Funds, Five-Year Impact:

Fiscal Year	Probable Revenue Gain/(Loss) from GENERAL REVENUE FUND 1
2008	($403,200)
2009	($403,200)
2010	($403,200)
2011	($403,200)
2012	($403,200)

Fiscal Analysis

The bill would provide longevity pay for active judges eligible for the Judicial Retirement System Plan I or Plan II. The amount would be $20 per month for each year of service, calculated and payable only after 16 years of service.

Methodology

The number of eligible judges is estimated to be 109, and to not increase over time; as additional judges meet the service requirement an equal number are assumed to retire. Eligible judges would receive $3,840 per year for 16 years of service and over.

This analysis assumes no additional Fund 573 money would be available to pay for this benefit, so the costs would be borne solely by General Revenue

Local Government Impact

No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.

Source Agencies:

327 Employees Retirement System

LBB Staff:

JOB, MN, WM