LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 82ND LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

Revision 2

April 5, 2011

TO:	Honorable Jim Jackson, Chair, House Committee on Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence
FROM:	John S O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB1325 by Hartnett (relating to payment of the costs for services of a guardian ad litem, court visitor, and attorney ad litem in a guardianship proceeding.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted

No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would amend the Texas Probate Code to remove the requirement that a county must pay outstanding costs for services of a guardian ad litem, an attorney ad litem, or a court visitor in a guardianship proceeding. A court would be authorized to order an applicant in a guardianship proceeding to pay the costs for services if a proposed ward's assets or the guardianship estate are insufficient to pay the cost, or the applicant's gross family income exceeds 200 percent of the federal poverty level.

Local Government Impact

There could be a savings to a county depending on the number of guardianship proceedings; however, the amount is not anticipated to be significant.

Comal and Travis counties reported the fiscal impact is not anticipated to be significant.

Source Agencies:

212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council

LBB Staff:

JOB, JT, TP, SD