Honorable Joan Huffman, Chair, Senate Committee on State Affairs
FROM:
John McGeady, Assistant Director Sarah Keyton, Assistant Director Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
SB467 by Zaffirini (Relating to the procedures of the State Commission on Judicial Conduct.), As Introduced
Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for SB467, As Introduced: a negative impact of ($66,640) 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
($66,640)
2021
$0
2022
$0
2023
$0
2024
$0
Fiscal Year
Probable Savings/(Cost) from General Revenue Fund 1
2020
($66,640)
2021
$0
2022
$0
2023
$0
2024
$0
Fiscal Analysis
The bill would amend the Government Code to require the State Commission on Judicial Conduct to include certain information specified in the bill in its annual report, would require the Commission to provide a searchable online database on the Commission's website with information on each written complaint filed with the Commission, and index the status of pending complaint investigations. The bill would require the Commission to publish guidelines for punishment that is proportional to any misconduct, and would require the Commission establish a timeline governing investigation of any complaint.
The bill would take effect September 1, 2019.
Methodology
Based on the information provided by the State Commission on Judicial Conduct and the Office of Court Administration, this analysis assumes $66,640 in fiscal year 2020 would be necessary for the agency to build a searchable database that would be integrated into its website in order to implement the provisions of the bill.
Technology
Cost include $66,640 in professional services to create a searchable database to be integrated into the agency's website.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
Source Agencies:
212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council, 242 State Commission on Judicial Conduct