Honorable Jeff Leach, Chair, House Committee on Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence
FROM:
John McGeady, Assistant Director Sarah Keyton, Assistant Director Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB4085 by Parker (Relating to the creation of an additional judicial district composed of Denton County.), As Introduced
Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB4085, As Introduced: a negative impact of ($119,003) 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
$0
2021
($119,003)
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
$0
0.0
2021
($119,003)
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 467th Judicial District in Denton County effective January 1, 2021.
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.
Under the provisions of the bill, the new court would be established on January 1, 2021; therefore, eight months of salary and benefits costs would be realized for the district judge position in fiscal year 2021 ($178,505/12 months = 14,875 x 8 months = $119,003).
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