LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE, 81ST LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION April 14, 2009 TO: Honorable Jeff Wentworth, Chair, Senate Committee on Jurisprudence FROM: John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE:SB2217 by Ellis (Relating to the creation of an additional judicial district composed of Harris County and the preference given by the district court to domestic violence cases.), As Introduced Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for SB2217, As Introduced: a negative impact of ($183,862) through the biennium ending August 31, 2011. The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill.
LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
FISCAL NOTE, 81ST LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
April 14, 2009
TO: Honorable Jeff Wentworth, Chair, Senate Committee on Jurisprudence FROM: John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE:SB2217 by Ellis (Relating to the creation of an additional judicial district composed of Harris County and the preference given by the district court to domestic violence cases.), As Introduced
TO: Honorable Jeff Wentworth, Chair, Senate Committee on Jurisprudence
FROM: John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE: SB2217 by Ellis (Relating to the creation of an additional judicial district composed of Harris County and the preference given by the district court to domestic violence cases.), As Introduced
Honorable Jeff Wentworth, Chair, Senate Committee on Jurisprudence
Honorable Jeff Wentworth, Chair, Senate Committee on Jurisprudence
John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
SB2217 by Ellis (Relating to the creation of an additional judicial district composed of Harris County and the preference given by the district court to domestic violence cases.), As Introduced
SB2217 by Ellis (Relating to the creation of an additional judicial district composed of Harris County and the preference given by the district court to domestic violence cases.), As Introduced
Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for SB2217, As Introduced: a negative impact of ($183,862) through the biennium ending August 31, 2011. The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill.
Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for SB2217, As Introduced: a negative impact of ($183,862) through the biennium ending August 31, 2011.
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 2010 ($91,931) 2011 ($91,931) 2012 ($91,931) 2013 ($91,931) 2014 ($91,931)
2010 ($91,931)
2011 ($91,931)
2012 ($91,931)
2013 ($91,931)
2014 ($91,931)
All Funds, Five-Year Impact: Fiscal Year Probable Savings/(Cost) fromGeneral Revenue Fund1 Probable Savings/(Cost) fromJudicial Fund573 Change in Number of State Employees from FY 2009 2010 ($91,931) ($66,570) 1.0 2011 ($91,931) ($66,570) 1.0 2012 ($91,931) ($66,570) 1.0 2013 ($91,931) ($66,570) 1.0 2014 ($91,931) ($66,570) 1.0
Fiscal Year Probable Savings/(Cost) fromGeneral Revenue Fund1 Probable Savings/(Cost) fromJudicial Fund573 Change in Number of State Employees from FY 2009 2010 ($91,931) ($66,570) 1.0 2011 ($91,931) ($66,570) 1.0 2012 ($91,931) ($66,570) 1.0 2013 ($91,931) ($66,570) 1.0 2014 ($91,931) ($66,570) 1.0
2010 ($91,931) ($66,570) 1.0
2011 ($91,931) ($66,570) 1.0
2012 ($91,931) ($66,570) 1.0
2013 ($91,931) ($66,570) 1.0
2014 ($91,931) ($66,570) 1.0
Fiscal Analysis
The bill would amend Chapter 24, Government Code, to create a new judicial district in Harris County, the 476th Judicial District. The court would be created September 1, 2009, and would give preference to domestic violence cases. The bill would take effect September 1, 2009.
The bill would amend Chapter 24, Government Code, to create a new judicial district in Harris County, the 476th Judicial District. The court would be created September 1, 2009, and would give preference to domestic violence cases.
The bill would take effect September 1, 2009.
Methodology
The annual salary provided by the state for a district judge is $125,000, in addition to benefits (state contributions for group insurance and the the Judicial Retirment System) which are estimated to be $33,501 annually. The total annual salary and benefits cost for a district judge is estimated to be $158,501.
The annual salary provided by the state for a district judge is $125,000, in addition to benefits (state contributions for group insurance and the the Judicial Retirment System) which are estimated to be $33,501 annually. The total annual salary and benefits cost for a district judge is estimated to be $158,501.
Local Government Impact
The bill would create the 476th Judicial District composed of Harris County, and would allow the district court to give preference to domestic violence cases. Harris Countys fiscal year begins March 1. The Harris County budget office reported the estimated cost for fiscal year 2010 is $1,954,085 which would include costs for start-up, operational, technology, furnishings, equipment and staffing. The costs for operations and staffing for fiscal year 2011 would be $3,848,169; for fiscal years 2012 to 2013 the cost would be $3,904,267; and for fiscal year 2014 the cost would be $3,962,048. Harris County indicated that they could not estimate the amount of revenue that would be collected since they have not collected for domestic violence cases in a judicial district court. Because the new 476th Judicial District would be in start-up mode, no additional revenue is projected for fiscal year 2010; however, it is assumed that the increased caseload by the creation of a new judicial district could result in higher revenues that could offset a portion of the costs.
Source Agencies: 212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council, 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts
212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council, 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts
LBB Staff: JOB, TP, MN, JP
JOB, TP, MN, JP