LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE, 84TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION April 22, 2015 TO: Honorable Joan Huffman, Chair, Senate Committee on State Affairs FROM: Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE:SB1970 by Huffman (Relating to increasing the electronic filing fee for certain courts of law.), As Introduced Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for SB1970, As Introduced: an impact of $0 through the biennium ending August 31, 2017. LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE, 84TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION April 22, 2015 TO: Honorable Joan Huffman, Chair, Senate Committee on State Affairs FROM: Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE:SB1970 by Huffman (Relating to increasing the electronic filing fee for certain courts of law.), As Introduced TO: Honorable Joan Huffman, Chair, Senate Committee on State Affairs FROM: Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE: SB1970 by Huffman (Relating to increasing the electronic filing fee for certain courts of law.), As Introduced Honorable Joan Huffman, Chair, Senate Committee on State Affairs Honorable Joan Huffman, Chair, Senate Committee on State Affairs Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board SB1970 by Huffman (Relating to increasing the electronic filing fee for certain courts of law.), As Introduced SB1970 by Huffman (Relating to increasing the electronic filing fee for certain courts of law.), As Introduced Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for SB1970, As Introduced: an impact of $0 through the biennium ending August 31, 2017. Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for SB1970, As Introduced: an impact of $0 through the biennium ending August 31, 2017. General Revenue-Related Funds, Five-Year Impact: Fiscal Year Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds 2016 $0 2017 $0 2018 $0 2019 $0 2020 $0 2016 $0 2017 $0 2018 $0 2019 $0 2020 $0 All Funds, Five-Year Impact: Fiscal Year Probable Revenue Gain/(Loss) fromStatewide Electronic Filing System5157 2016 $5,299,818 2017 $5,299,818 2018 $5,299,818 2019 $5,299,818 2020 $5,299,818 Fiscal Year Probable Revenue Gain/(Loss) fromStatewide Electronic Filing System5157 2016 $5,299,818 2017 $5,299,818 2018 $5,299,818 2019 $5,299,818 2020 $5,299,818 2016 $5,299,818 2017 $5,299,818 2018 $5,299,818 2019 $5,299,818 2020 $5,299,818 Fiscal Analysis The bill would amend the Government Code to increase the statewide electronic filing system fund fee from $20 to $30. This civil filing fee is assessed at county-level, district, and appellate courts on the filing of any civil action or proceeding requiring a filing fee. The bill would take effect September 1, 2015. Methodology Based on the information provided by the OCA, this estimate assumes civil case filings will remain at approximately fiscal year 2014 levels for the 2016-17 biennium. For the filing fees for civil cases, utilizing historical revenue collections from fiscal year 2014, OCA estimates that every $1 of this type of civil filing fee annually raises $345,363 in revenue at the district court level and $180,374 at the county court level. Based on these per dollar revenue increases, OCA estimates that a $10 increase in statewide electronic filing system fund fee would result in an increase of $3,453,630 in district courts, $1,803,740 in county level courts, and $42,448 in the intermediate appellate courts and Supreme Court, for a total estimated annual revenue increase of $5,299,818 to the state each fiscal year. Based on information provided by OCA, duties and responsibilities associated with implementing the provisions of the bill could be accomplished utilizing existing resources. 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 212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council, 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts LBB Staff: UP, AG, MW, GDz, KVe UP, AG, MW, GDz, KVe