Honorable Jeff Leach, Chair, House Committee on Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence
FROM:
Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB3145 by Jetton (Relating to a complaint filed with the State Commission on Judicial Conduct.), As Introduced
Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB3145, As Introduced : a negative impact of ($494,948) through the biennium ending August 31, 2025.
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
2024
($247,474)
2025
($247,474)
2026
($247,474)
2027
($247,474)
2028
($247,474)
All Funds, Five-Year Impact:
Fiscal Year
Probable (Cost) from General Revenue Fund 1
Change in Number of State Employees from FY 2023
2024
($247,474)
2.0
2025
($247,474)
2.0
2026
($247,474)
2.0
2027
($247,474)
2.0
2028
($247,474)
2.0
Fiscal Analysis
The bill would amend the Government Code to reduce the time frame for processing judicial complaints filed with the State Commission on Judicial Conduct (SCJC) from 270 days to 120 days. The bill would also shorten the deadline for publishing the commission's recommendations or action to not more than 72 hours. The bill would provide for an extension provided the commission informs the legislature of the extension.
The bill would require the commission to provide to the judge under investigation details of the original complaint, notice of the judges right to attend each commission meeting, and any recommendations or actions taken by the commission. The bill would also require the SCJC to provide a report to the Eighty-ninth Legislature.
Methodology
Based on information provided by the SCJC, this analysis assumes an additional 2.0 FTE attorney positions with necessary operating costs that would be funded from the General Revenue Fund would be required to implement the provisions of the bill. Salary, professional services, operating costs, and agency payroll related contributions for two Attorney III positions are anticipated to be $191,060 each fiscal year. It is also assumed that benefit costs for these positions would total $56,414 each fiscal year.
This analysis assumes costs related to the required report for the Eighty-ninth Legislature could be absorbed using existing resources.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.