Honorable Joan Huffman, Chair, Senate Committee on Finance
FROM:
Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB2529 by Dean (Relating to the annual state salary supplement for certain county judges.), As Engrossed
Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB2529, As Engrossed: a negative impact of ($1,770,000) through the biennium ending August 31, 2027.
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
2026
($885,000)
2027
($885,000)
2028
($885,000)
2029
($885,000)
2030
($885,000)
All Funds, Five-Year Impact:
Fiscal Year
Probable Savings/(Cost) from General Revenue Fund 1
2026
($885,000)
2027
($885,000)
2028
($885,000)
2029
($885,000)
2030
($885,000)
Fiscal Analysis
The bill would amend the Government Code to increase the county supplement paid to certain constitutional county judges to allow a constitutional county judge entitled to an annual salary supplement from the state to receive the district judge salary enhancements based on years of services as a county judge. The bill would allow the state supplement to increase after four and eight years of service as a constitutional county judge.
Methodology
Under current law, a constitutional county judge is entitled to an annual salary supplement from the state equal to 18.0 percent of the base salary of a district judge (currently set at $140,000) if at least 18.0 percent of the functions that the judge performs, or 18.0 percent of the total hours the judge works, are judicial functions.
According to the Comptroller's Department Judiciary Section, $885,000 each fiscal year would be required for the anticipated salary supplement cost increase for constitutional county judges that would be credited for an additional four and eight years of service under the provisions of the bill.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
Source Agencies:
212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council, 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts