LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE, 84TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION March 20, 2015 TO: Honorable Joan Huffman, Chair, Senate Committee on State Affairs FROM: Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE:SB824 by Huffman (Relating to the number of jurors required in certain civil cases pending in a statutory county court.), As Introduced No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated. The bill would amend the Government Code to provide that a jury would be composed of 12 members and the procedures regarding jury panels and selection of jurors would be the same as for district courts in that counties when the amount in controversy is $200,000 or more. Based on the analysis of the Office of Court Administration and Comptroller of Public Accounts, duties and responsibilities associated with implementing the provisions of the bill could be accomplished by utilizing existing resources. Local Government Impact The fiscal implications of the bill for local governments are indeterminate. The Office of Court Administration assumes most statutory county courts' jurisdiction is capped at $200,000 and would not be impacted by the bill. However, there may be some fiscal impact to counties related to additional juror pay that would vary depending on the number of civil jury trials where the amount in controversy exceeds $200,000 in counties where the statutory county courts' jurisdiction exceeds $200,000. In addition, there is likely to be some fiscal impact to counties that would need to modify courtroom space to accommodate changes required by the bill since most statutory county courts have space for only 6-8 jurors. Source Agencies:212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council, 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts LBB Staff: UP, AG, MW, TB, KVe, FR, GDz
LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
FISCAL NOTE, 84TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
March 20, 2015
TO: Honorable Joan Huffman, Chair, Senate Committee on State Affairs FROM: Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE:SB824 by Huffman (Relating to the number of jurors required in certain civil cases pending in a statutory county court.), As Introduced
TO: Honorable Joan Huffman, Chair, Senate Committee on State Affairs
FROM: Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE: SB824 by Huffman (Relating to the number of jurors required in certain civil cases pending in a statutory county court.), 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
SB824 by Huffman (Relating to the number of jurors required in certain civil cases pending in a statutory county court.), As Introduced
SB824 by Huffman (Relating to the number of jurors required in certain civil cases pending in a statutory county court.), As Introduced
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend the Government Code to provide that a jury would be composed of 12 members and the procedures regarding jury panels and selection of jurors would be the same as for district courts in that counties when the amount in controversy is $200,000 or more. Based on the analysis of the Office of Court Administration and Comptroller of Public Accounts, duties and responsibilities associated with implementing the provisions of the bill could be accomplished by utilizing existing resources.
Local Government Impact
The fiscal implications of the bill for local governments are indeterminate. The Office of Court Administration assumes most statutory county courts' jurisdiction is capped at $200,000 and would not be impacted by the bill. However, there may be some fiscal impact to counties related to additional juror pay that would vary depending on the number of civil jury trials where the amount in controversy exceeds $200,000 in counties where the statutory county courts' jurisdiction exceeds $200,000. In addition, there is likely to be some fiscal impact to counties that would need to modify courtroom space to accommodate changes required by the bill since most statutory county courts have space for only 6-8 jurors.
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, TB, KVe, FR, GDz
UP, AG, MW, TB, KVe, FR, GDz