Honorable Jeff Leach, Chair, House Committee on Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence
FROM:
John McGeady, Assistant Director Sarah Keyton, Assistant Director Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB1437 by Toth (Relating to the creation of an additional judicial district composed of Montgomery County and the duties of the district attorney for the 9th Judicial District in Montgomery County and the 410th Judicial District.), As Introduced
Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB1437, As Introduced: a negative impact of ($357,010) through the biennium ending August 31, 2021.
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
2020
($178,505)
2021
($178,505)
2022
($178,505)
2023
($178,505)
2024
($178,505)
Fiscal Year
Probable Savings/(Cost) from General Revenue Fund 1
Change in Number of State Employees from FY 2019
2020
($178,505)
1.0
2021
($178,505)
1.0
2022
($178,505)
1.0
2023
($178,505)
1.0
2024
($178,505)
1.0
Fiscal Analysis
The bill would amend the Government Code to establish the 457th Judicial District in Montgomery County and allow the district attorney of the 9th Judicial District to represent the state in the new district court.
The bill would take effect September 1, 2019.
Methodology
The annual salary provided by the state for a district judge is $140,000, in addition to benefits (state contributions for group insurance and the Judicial Retirement System) which are estimated to be $38,505 each year. The total annual salary and benefits cost for a district judge is estimated to be $178,505 each fiscal year.
These costs are traditionally met through a mix of General Revenue Fund and Judicial Fund No. 573 funding, however for the past several fiscal years Judicial Fund No. 573 revenues have not been sufficient to meet all judicial salary obligations. Due to this, General Revenue funding has been used to meet the remaining obligations. Therefore, this estimate assumes General Revenue funding would be needed to cover the full state obligations to meet the provisions of the bill.
Local Government Impact
The bill would a establish new court, which would require annual costs for personnel and operating expenses and may require one-time costs, such as furniture, to establish.
Source Agencies:
212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council, 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts