Honorable John T. Smithee, Chair, House Committee on Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB2088 by Rodriguez, Justin (Relating to an interim study regarding the method by which district judges and appellate justices and judges are selected.), As Introduced
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would establish a joint interim committee on judicial selection to study and review the method by which district judges and appellate justices and judges are selected for office. The bill would require the committee to be composed of six senators and six members of the House of Representatives as defined in the bill and would require the Texas Legislative Council (TLC) to provide legal and policy research, bill drafting, and statistical analysis services to the committee. The bill specifies that Senate and House contingent expense funds would reimburse committee member expenses. The bill would require the committee to report its findings and recommendations, including specific constitutional and statutory changes, no later than January 6, 2017 and would abolish the committee on January 12, 2017.
Based on information provided by TLC, duties and responsibilities associated with implementing the provisions of the bill could be accomplished bill within existing resources. Implementing the provisions of the bill is not expected to result in a significant fiscal impact to either the Senate or the House of Representatives.
Local Government Impact
No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.