LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 83RD LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

May 2, 2013

TO:	Honorable Tryon D. Lewis, Chair, House Committee on Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence
FROM:	Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB1528 by Otto (Relating to the composition of the First and Fourteenth Courts of Appeals Districts.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would amend the Government Code to place Walker County within the combined jurisdiction of the First and Fourteenth Court of Appeals Districts. Because the Texas Supreme Court transfers cases among the courts of appeals to equalize the workload of the intermediate appellate courts, there will be no significant fiscal implication to the state court system, but the number of transfers required annually to equalize the workload should be reduced. Accordingly, no significant fiscal implication to the state's court system is anticipated.

The bill would take effect September 1, 2013.

Local Government Impact

According to the Office of Court Administration, if Walker County is placed into the combined Houston district it is estimated that Walker County would be assessed an amount of approximately $8,800 per year from Harris County, to fund Walker County's proportionate share of operational costs for the First and Fourteenth Courts of Appeals Districts. Accordingly, no significant fiscal implication to local government is anticipated.

Source Agencies:

212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council

LBB Staff:

UP, AM, CL, TB, JT, JP