Honorable Jim Jackson, Chair, House Committee on Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence
FROM:
John S O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HJR61 by Raymond (proposing a constitutional amendment changing the terms of office of a district judge.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated, other than the cost of publication.
The cost to the state for publication of the resolution is $105,495.
The joint resolution proposes a constitutional amendment of Section 7, Article V, Texas Constitution, to increase the terms of district judges from four years to six years. The bill would provide that district judges appointed to fill a vacancy be elected to a full term, rather than the unexpired term, at the next general election. A temporary provision is also included which clarifies the application of the proposed amendment to a district judge whose term began prior to the effective date. According to the Secretary of State, the bill would result in a loss of revenue to the General Revenue Fund in fiscal year 2016 for that year’s primary season due to less filing fees (144 races x 1.5 candidates x $2,500 filing fee in higher county population brackets + 73 races x 1.5 candidates x $1,500 filing fee in lower county population brackets = $704,520, where 1.5 represents the average number of candidates for a given primary). The resolution would be submitted to the voters on November 8, 2011.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
Source Agencies:
212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council, 307 Secretary of State