Honorable Jeff Leach, Chair, House Committee on Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence
FROM:
Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB4048 by Guillen (Relating to the creation of the 2nd Multicounty Court at Law in Bee, Live Oak, and McMullen Counties.), As Introduced
Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB4048, As Introduced : a negative impact of ($280,000) 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
($140,000)
2025
($140,000)
2026
($140,000)
2027
($140,000)
2028
($140,000)
All Funds, Five-Year Impact:
Fiscal Year
Probable Savings/(Cost) from General Revenue Fund 1
Change in Number of State Employees from FY 2023
2024
($140,000)
1.0
2025
($140,000)
1.0
2026
($140,000)
1.0
2027
($140,000)
1.0
2028
($140,000)
1.0
Fiscal Analysis
The bill would create the 2nd Multicounty Court at Law composed of Bee, Live Oak, and McMullen Counties. The bill would also set court jurisdiction, clerk assignment, and financial obligations for the court. The bill would take effect on September 1, 2023.
Methodology
State judicial compensation is traditionally met through a mix of General Revenue 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 for these provisions.
Pursuant to Government Code Sec. 25.2607(d), the state reimburses the administrative county of a multi-county statutory county court judge, unless the enabling statute provides otherwise, 100 percent of the state base pay of a district judge. Section 659.012 of the Government Code sets the district judge salary at the amount set in the General Appropriations Act but no less than $140,000.
Local Government Impact
The fiscal implications of the bill cannot be determined at this time.
Source Agencies:
212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council, 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts, 327 Employees Retirement System