LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
 
FISCAL NOTE, 80TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
 
April 3, 2007

TO:
Honorable Jeff Wentworth, Chair, Senate Committee on Jurisprudence
 
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 Introduced



Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for SB1519, As Introduced: a negative impact of ($3,328,800) 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.

The bill would provide longevity pay for active judges in Judicial Retirement System Plan II (JRS II). The amount would be $50 per month for each year of service, calculated and payable only after 8, 12, and 16 years of service.



Fiscal Year Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds
2008 ($1,521,600)
2009 ($1,807,200)
2010 ($1,862,400)
2011 ($2,256,000)
2012 ($2,433,600)




Fiscal Year Probable Savings/(Cost) from
GENERAL REVENUE FUND
1
2008 ($1,521,600)
2009 ($1,807,200)
2010 ($1,862,400)
2011 ($2,256,000)
2012 ($2,433,600)

Fiscal Analysis

The bill would provide longevity pay for active judges in Judicial Retirement System Plan II (JRS II). The amount would be $50 per month for each year of service, calculated and payable only after 8, 12, and 16 years of service.


Methodology

The number of eligible JRS II judges is estimated to range between 183 and 277 over the period 2008 through 2012. Eligible judges would receive $4,800 per year for service of 8-11 years, $7,200 per year for service of 12-15 years, and $9,600 per year for 16 years 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, SD, WM