Honorable Jeff Wentworth, Chair, Senate Committee on Jurisprudence
FROM:
John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
SB1436 by Watson (Relating to the appeal of a censure issued by the State Commission on Judicial Conduct.), As Introduced
Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for SB1436, As Introduced: a negative impact of ($12,000) through the biennium ending August 31, 2011.
The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill.
Fiscal Year
Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds
2010
($12,000)
2011
$0
2012
($6,000)
2013
$0
2014
($6,000)
Fiscal Year
Probable (Cost) from General Revenue Fund 1
2010
($12,000)
2011
$0
2012
($6,000)
2013
$0
2014
($6,000)
Fiscal Analysis
The bill would amend the Government Code relating to the appeal of a censure issued by the State Commission on Judicial Conduct (SCJC). The bill would allow a judge or justice receiving a censure from the commission to appeal the ruling to a special court of review.
Methodology
According to the SCJC, currently two formal proceedings are pending which could result in a censure with a subsequent appeal in fiscal year 2010. SCJC indicates that on average an appeal costs $6,000. This estimate assumes the two cases each will result in a censure appealed in fiscal year 2010, with subsequent censures appealed on average one for every other year thereafter.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
Source Agencies:
212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council, 242 State Commission on Judicial Conduct