Honorable Jeff Leach, Chair, House Committee on Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence
FROM:
Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB2101 by Anderson (Relating to the creation of an additional judicial district in McLennan County.), As Introduced
Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB2101, As Introduced : a negative impact of ($397,144) through the biennium ending August 31, 2023.
The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill.
General Revenue-Related Funds, Five- Year Impact:
Fiscal Year
Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds
2022
($198,572)
2023
($198,572)
2024
($198,572)
2025
($198,572)
2026
($198,572)
All Funds, Five-Year Impact:
Fiscal Year
Probable Savings/(Cost) from General Revenue Fund 1
Change in Number of State Employees from FY 2021
2022
($198,572)
1.0
2023
($198,572)
1.0
2024
($198,572)
1.0
2025
($198,572)
1.0
2026
($198,572)
1.0
Fiscal Analysis
The bill would amend the Government Code to create a new district court in McLennan County (474th District Court) on September 1, 2021. The bill would give the court concurrent jurisdiction with the county court and statutory county courts of McLennan County in misdemeanor cases. The terms of the 474th District Court would begin on the second Mondays in February, April, June, August, October, and December.
The bill would create the 474th District Court on the effective date of the bill, which would be September 1, 2021.
Methodology
Costs reflected in the table above are based on the analysis provided by the Office of Court Administration (OCA).
Personnel costs are based on the current salary for a district judge with 0-4 years of service, $140,000 per year, as set forth in the General Appropriations Act. Based on this analysis, operating and payroll related benefit costs would total $58,572 in fiscal year 2022 and in subsequent years. This amount includes operating costs of $10,944 each fiscal year based on estimated costs for visiting judges and are determined using the daily rate of $608 x 18 days.
Local Government Impact
Local governments pay operating costs associated with district courts, such as office space, computer equipment, furniture and court staff.