Honorable Tryon D. Lewis, Chair, House Committee on Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB1118 by Davis, Yvonne (Relating to documents filed with certain courts.), As Introduced
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend the Government Code to authorize a district clerk to provide a written plan for the storage of records, acts, proceedings, minutes, and registers, records and instruments for which the clerk is responsible. The plan must require the use of original paper documents in a court proceeding which must be retained by the clerk pending final disposition of all proceedings in the case. An original paper document would be required to be transmitted to the appropriate court.
According to the Office of Court Administration, no significant fiscal impact is anticipated.
Local Government Impact
Dallas County reported there would costs totaling an estimated $1.5 million in fiscal year (FY) 2014 with amounts increasing to $1.7 million in FY 2018. Costs would include salaries and benefits for 34 new employees ($1.5 million); computers ($34,000); and furniture ($25,500) in FY 2014. The county added that the district clerk would have to maintain two separate record keeping systems (one paper and one electronic) since e-Filing is also required. Dallas County's affected department's current fiscal year budget is $12.7 million.
Harris County reported there would costs totaling an estimated $826,765 in FY 2014 with amounts increasing to $918,529 in FY 2018. Costs would include salaries and benefits for 11 new employees ($562,490); equipment and supplies ($174,275); and additional storage space ($90,000) in FY 2014. The county added that much of the costs would be for additional printers and junior level clerks to copy and sort files for distribution to the courts. Harris County's overall current fiscal year budget is $1.3 billion.
Travis County reported there would costs totaling an estimated $1.1 million in FY 2014 with amounts increasing to $1.1 million in FY 2018. Costs would include salaries and benefits for 20 to 26 new employees ($905,432); filing and printing supplies ($44,700); computers, telecommunication equipment, and printers ($55,330); and additional file storage space ($110,440) in FY 2014. The county added that locating an individual document within a large paper file requires additional time. The Travis County District Clerk estimates the courtroom staffing demands would increase by 50 percent which would result in the need for six new court clerks for courtroom duties. Travis County's affected department's current fiscal year budget is $7.2 million.
Washington County reported the county does not currently file electronically; therefore, no fiscal impact to the county is anticipated.
Source Agencies:
212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council