SB 0252 - Fiscal Note

Fiscal Note - SB 0252 - Adds one circuit court judge in Cole County in 2002

COMMITTEE ON LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH

OVERSIGHT DIVISION

FISCAL NOTE

L.R. NO. 1012-02

BILL NO. SB 252

SUBJECT: Circuit and associate circuit judges in Cole County

TYPE: Original

DATE: February 8, 1999

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FISCAL SUMMARY

ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON STATE FUNDS
FUND AFFECTED	FY 2000	FY 2001	FY 2002
General Revenue*	$0	$0	$0
Total Estimated Net Effect on All State Funds	$0	$0	$0

* Costs will not be incurred until FY 2003.

ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON FEDERAL FUNDS
FUND AFFECTED	FY 2000	FY 2001	FY 2002
None
Total Estimated Net Effect on All Federal Funds	$0	$0	$0

ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON LOCAL FUNDS
FUND AFFECTED	FY 2000	FY 2001	FY 2002
Local Government	$0	$0	$0

Numbers within parentheses: ( ) indicate costs or losses

This fiscal note contains 3 pages.

FISCAL ANALYSIS

ASSUMPTION

Officials from the Office of State Courts Administrator (CTS) assume the proposed legislation would reduce the number of associate circuit judges from two to one, and increase the number of circuit judges from two to three in Cole County, effective January 1, 2003. The increased costs would be for the difference in salary, currently $11,712 and the salary of a court reporter which is currently $44,482. The increased costs would be applicable for six months of FY 2003 and full years thereafter.

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 the additional judge in Cole County; however, their current caseload would be expedited. SPD assumes they would require 0.5 FTE Assistant Public Defender ($33,024 per year), plus fringe benefits, equipment, and operating expenses to carry out the provisions of this proposal at an estimated cost of approximately $26,000 annually.

Oversight assumes the increased costs would not be incurred until FY 2003.

Officials from the Office of Prosecution Services (OPS) assume the proposed legislation could increase the workload of the county prosecutor in Cole County; however, OPS assumes that any impact would be minimal and could be absorbed with existing resources.

Officials from the Joint Committee on Public Employee Retirement assume the proposed legislation would present no substantial change in future plan benefits.

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

Officials from the Missouri State Employees' Retirement System (MOS) assume a circuit judge is eligible for membership in the Judicial Retirement Plan that is administered by MOS. As an employee covered by the Judicial Retirement Plan, the state's contribution rate of 53.92% would apply to the current salary of a circuit court judge which is currently $98,947. Since the proposal would also remove one associate circuit judge, contributions would be decreased by $47,037 (i.e. 53.92% applied to an associate circuit judges current salary $87,235). Therefore, additional costs to fund retirement benefits are calculated to be $6,315 annually.

Oversight assumes the increased costs would not be incurred until FY 2003.

FISCAL IMPACT - State Government	FY 2000	FY 2001	FY 2002
	(10 Mo.)
General Revenue Fund*	0	0	0
* Costs will not be incurred until FY 2003.
FISCAL IMPACT - Local Government	FY 2000	FY 2001	FY 2002
	(10 Mo.)
	0	0	0
FISCAL IMPACT - Small Business
No direct fiscal impact to small businesses would be expected as a result of this proposal.

DESCRIPTION

This proposal adds one circuit court judge in Cole County, to be elected in 2002. There shall be one less associate circuit judge as of January 1, 2003.

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 Attorney General

Office of the State Public Defender

Office of Prosecution Services

Joint Committee on Public Employee Retirement

Missouri State Employees Retirement System

19th Judicial Circuit Court of Missouri (Cole County)

Jeanne Jarrett, CPA

Director

February 8, 1999