LEGISLATIVE SERVICES AGENCY
OFFICE OF FISCAL AND MANAGEMENT ANALYSIS
FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT
LS 7444 NOTE PREPARED: Jan 27, 2025
BILL NUMBER: HB 1319 BILL AMENDED:
SUBJECT: Elkhart County Courts.
FIRST AUTHOR: Rep. Wesco BILL STATUS: CR Adopted - 1
st
House
FIRST SPONSOR:
FUNDS AFFECTED:XGENERAL IMPACT: State & Local
DEDICATED
FEDERAL
Summary of Legislation: This bill allows the judges of the Elkhart circuit and superior courts to appoint
five full-time magistrates. (Current law allows for the appointment of two magistrates.)
Effective Date: July 1, 2025.
Explanation of State Expenditures: Summary - The total estimated cost for four full-time magistrates in
Elkhart County is about $477,546 in FY 2026 and $714,217 annually, beginning in FY 2027. Currently, the
state pays $105,417 of the base salary and fringe benefits for the juvenile magistrate position.
Elkhart County Magistrate Positions
Provisions Effective DateFY 2026FY 2027
#1 Juvenile Magistrate to Full-time Magistrate7/1/2025 $51,380 $49,787
#2 IV-D Commissioner to Full-time Magistrate7/1/2025 $213,083$221,477
#3 New Magistrate 1/1/2026 $106,542$221,477
#4 New Magistrate 1/1/2026 $106,542$221,477
Total: $477,546$714,217
Additional Information - The salaries of circuit and superior court judges and magistrates can be adjusted
each year by one of two methods:
• The General Assembly can increase the amount specified in statute.
• If the General Assembly does not increase the salary of judicial officers by a nominal amount, then
under IC 33-38-5-8.1, salaries of judicial officers can be adjusted by the amount that executive staff
salaries in the same salary level are increased and the Chief Justice of the Indiana Supreme Court
approves the increase.
HB 1319 1 State expenditures associated with these new court officers also depend on the costs of fringe benefits for
state employees. While most of the benefits are based on a percentage of the salaries of the employee, the
costs of medical insurance for the persons filling these new positions will depend on future decisions of the
executive branch. The extent to which the state would pass along any increase in health insurance costs to
employees is unknown.
LSA uses the five-year average of normal costs between FY 2019 and FY 2023 of each active member of
the Judges Retirement Fund less the member’s contribution (roughly 6% of payroll) to calculate the annual
retirement costs of judicial officers. Normal cost is defined as the present value of benefits accruing for a
particular plan year.
Explanation of State Revenues:
Explanation of Local Expenditures: Effect on Elkhart County: The bill will result in an estimated cost
savings of $40,077 in CY 2025 and $80,153 in each subsequent year based on current salaries of magistrates.
No other staffing changes, expenses, or space will be necessary to facilitate this change.
Elkhart County will convert the juvenile magistrate and Title IV-D commissioner positions to full-time
magistrates. The Title IV-D commissioner receives $114,401 annually, with a federal reimbursement of
two-thirds of the salary. Juvenile court magistrates receive the same compensation as general court
magistrates, and current law requires the county to pay $41,393 while the state pays the remaining salary.
Explanation of Local Revenues:
State Agencies Affected: Indiana Supreme Court.
Local Agencies Affected: Elkhart County.
Information Sources: IC 31-31-4-4; Indiana Supreme Court, Trial Court Fee Manual,
https://www.in.gov/courts/publications/reports/; Indiana Public Retirement System website,
https://www.in.gov/inprs/publications/actuarial-valuation-reports/; Indiana State Budget Agency, Policy
Instructions, https://www.in.gov/sba/files/FY25-Reserve-Memo-and-Supplementary-Budget-Instructions.pdf.
Fiscal Analyst: Corrin Harvey, 317-234-9438.
HB 1319 2