SB 0512 - Fiscal Note

Fiscal Note - SB 0512 - Adds one circuit judge to twenty-third judicial circuit and one circuit judge to eleventh judicial circuit

COMMITTEE ON LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH

OVERSIGHT DIVISION

FISCAL NOTE

L.R. NO. 2240-02

BILL NO. SB 512

SUBJECT: Circuit Judges

TYPE: Original

DATE: January 27, 1998

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FISCAL SUMMARY

ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON STATE FUNDS
FUND AFFECTED	FY 1999	FY 2000	FY 2001
General Revenue	($390,723)	($475,149)	($486,312)
Total Estimated Net Effect on All State Funds	($390,723)	($475,149)	($486,312)

ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON FEDERAL FUNDS
FUND AFFECTED	FY 1999	FY 2000	FY 2001
None
Total Estimated Net Effect on All Federal Funds	$0	$0	$0

ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON LOCAL FUNDS
FUND AFFECTED	FY 1999	FY 2000	FY 2001
Local Government	($163,223)	($163,098)	($167,026)

Numbers within parentheses: ( ) indicate costs or losses

This fiscal note contains 5 pages.

FISCAL ANALYSIS

ASSUMPTION

Officials from the Office of State Courts Administrator (CTS) assume the proposed legislation would add two additional circuit judges -- one each in the 11th and 23rd judicial circuits. CTS assumes the Governor could appoint circuit judges to these vacant positions at any time, as the proposal would become effective on August 28, 1998. Circuit judges are state-paid and are entitled to a state-paid court reporter and division clerk. The current salary for circuit judges would be $94,235 annually, the court reporter's salary would be $42,364 annually, and the division clerk's salary would be $21,816 annually. CTS assumes that any local costs would depend upon the availability of facilities, equipment and operating costs.

Officials from the Office of the State Public Defender (SPD) assume the proposal would result in added pressure for assistant public defenders to be in multiple places at one time. SPD realizes that their caseload would not increase due to additional judges in the 11th and 23rd judicial circuits; however, their current caseload would be expedited. SPD assumes they would require a 1.0 FTE Assistant Public Defender - 0.5 FTE for each circuit ($32,580 per year), plus fringe benefits, equipment, and operating expenses to carry out the provisions of this proposal with an estimated cost of approximately $49,000 annually.

Officials from the Office of the Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney assume the proposal would require their office to hire one additional Assistant Prosecuting Attorney III ($45,000 per year) and one additional support staff ($20,000 per year), plus fringe benefits (approximately 25% of salary) at an estimated cost of approximately $83,000 annually.

Officials from the Office of the St. Charles County Prosecuting Attorney assume the proposal would require their office to hire one additional Assistant Prosecuting Attorney II ($39,283 per year) and one additional support staff ($19,747 per year), plus fringe benefits (approximately 22% of salary) at an estimated cost of approximately $74,000 annually.

Officials from the Office of Prosecution Services (OPS) assume the proposed legislation would have no fiscal impact on their agency; however, it would impact the prosecuting attorney offices in the 23rd and 11th judicial circuits.

ASSUMPTION (continued)

Officials from the 11th Judicial Circuit Court of Missouri (Lincoln, Pike, and St. Charles Counties) assume the proposal would result in office expenses in the approximate amount of $25,500 during the year of appointment and a very minimal amount thereafter. The initial costs resulting from this proposal would be as follows: printer ($400), typewriter ($500), two xerox

machines ($7,800), court reporting machine ($4,000), computers for judge and court reporter ($5,000), desk unit for court reporter ($6,000), judge's robe ($300), and statute books ($1,500).

Officials from the 23rd Judicial Circuit Court of Missouri (Jefferson County) assume the proposal would result in office expenses in the approximate amount of $10,000 during the year of appointment and $5,000 annually thereafter.

Officials from the Office of the Attorney General assume the proposal would have no fiscal impact on their budget.

FISCAL IMPACT - State Government	FY 1999	FY 2000	FY 2001
	(10 Mo.)
GENERAL REVENUE FUND
Costs - State Courts Administrator (CTS)
Personal Service (6.0 FTE)	($270,517)	($332,870)	($341,191)
Fringe Benefits	(75,745)	(93,203)	(95,534)
Total Costs - CTS	($346,262)	($426,073)	($436,725)
Costs - State Public Defender (SPD)
Personal Service (1.0 FTE)	($27,818)	($34,229)	($35,085)
Fringe Benefits	(7,797)	(9,594)	(9,834)
Equipment and Expenses	(8,846)	(5,253)	(4,668)
Total Costs - SPD	($44,461)	($49,076)	($49,587)
ESTIMATED NET EFFECT
ON GENERAL REVENUE	($390,723)	($475,149)	($486,312)
FISCAL IMPACT - Local Government	FY 1999	FY 2000	FY 2001
	(10 Mo.)
LOCAL GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES
Costs - St. Charles County Circuit Court	($25,500)	($1,000)	($1,000)
Costs - St. Charles County Prosecuting Attorney
Personal Service (2.0 FTE)	($49,192)	($60,506)	($62,018)
Fringe Benefits	(10,822)	(13,311)	(13,644)
Total Costs - St. Charles County P.A.	($60,014)	($73,817)	($75,662)
Costs - Jefferson County Circuit Court	($10,000)	($5,000)	($5,000)
Costs - Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney
Personal Service (2.0 FTE)	($54,167)	($66,625)	($68,291)
Fringe Benefits	(13,542)	(16,656)	(17,073)
Total Costs - Jefferson County P.A.	($67,709)	($83,281)	($85,364)
ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON
LOCAL GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES	($163,223)	($163,098)	($167,026)
FISCAL IMPACT - Small Business

No direct fiscal impact to small businesses would be expected as a result of this proposal.

DESCRIPTION

The proposal would add one additional circuit judge to the 23rd Judicial Circuit (Jefferson County) and the 11th Judicial Circuit (Lincoln, Pike, and St. Charles Counties).

This legislation is not federally mandated, would not duplicate any other program and would not require additional capital improvements or rental space.

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

Office of State Courts Administrator

Office of the State Public Defender

Office of Prosecution Services

Office of the Attorney General

11th Judicial Circuit Court of Missouri (Lincoln, Pike, and St. Charles Counties)

23rd Judicial Circuit Court of Missouri (Jefferson County)

Office of the Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney

Office of the St. Charles County Prosecuting Attorney

Jeanne Jarrett, CPA

Director

January 27, 1998