Honorable Tryon D. Lewis, Chair, House Committee On Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB1139 by Naishtat (Relating to the creation of an additional judicial district composed of Travis County.), As Introduced
Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB1139, As Introduced: an impact of $0 through the biennium ending August 31, 2015.
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
2014
$0
2015
$0
2016
($75,292)
2017
($75,292)
2018
($75,292)
Fiscal Year
Probable Savings/(Cost) from General Revenue Fund 1
Probable Savings/(Cost) from Judicial Fund 573
Change in Number of State Employees from FY 2013
2014
$0
$0
0.0
2015
$0
$0
0.0
2016
($75,292)
($72,339)
1.0
2017
($75,292)
($72,339)
1.0
2018
($75,292)
($72,339)
1.0
Fiscal Analysis
The bill would amend the Government Code to create a new judicial district in Travis County, the 450th Judicial District. The court would be created September 1, 2015, and give preference to criminal matters.
The bill would take effect September 1, 2015.
Methodology
The annual salary provided by the state for a district judge is $125,000, in addition to benefits (state contributions for group insurance and the Judicial Retirement System) which are estimated to be $22,631 annually. The total annual salary and benefits cost for a district judge is estimated to be $147,631.
Local Government Impact
Travis County would be responsible for paying the salary and benefits for court personnel. According to the Comptroller of Public Accounts, the Travis County Planning and Budget office reported estimated costs of $2,408,206 per year for fiscal years 2015 to 2018. This includes $47,567 for operating expenses, $598,000 for legally mandated costs, and $1,762,639 for personnel expenses. 2014 expenses would be pro-rated for one month at $200,684, combined with one-time costs of $361,119 for furnishings, equipment and information technology, for a total of $561,803 for 2014.
Source Agencies:
212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council, 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts