LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 81ST LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

March 26, 2009

TO:	Honorable Jeff Wentworth, Chair, Senate Committee on Jurisprudence
FROM:	John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	SB1440 by Watson (Relating to orders and judgments rendered by associate judges in child support and child protection cases.), As Introduced

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would amend the Family Code relating to orders and judgments rendered by associate judges in child support and protection cases. The bill would permit an associate judge's order to become the order or judgment without the referring court judge's signature if a request for a hearing before the referring court is not filed in a timely manner or the right is waived. No significant increase in the workload of the courts is anticipated.

The bill would take effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all members elected to each house. If the bill does not receive the votes required to pass, the bill would take effect
September 1, 2009.

Local Government Impact

No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.

Source Agencies:

LBB Staff:

JOB, MN, SD, TP