Colorado Legislative Council Staff

NO FISCAL IMPACT

TITLE:            CONCERNING ACTS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AFFECTING THE NUMBER OF COURT PERSONNEL EMPLOYED IN LOCAL FACILITIES.

Summary of Assessment

            The bill requires that all bills introduced in the General Assembly, after July 1, 1998, that may result in an increase in the number of judicial personnel working in a county facility are to:

            •   be referred to Legislative Council for an analysis of the increase of the county’s capital construction and operating costs over the next five fiscal years if the bill becomes law;

            •   be referred to the Appropriations Committee in the house of introduction; and

            •   include an appropriation into the Judicial Expansion Reserve Fund to cover the increased costs of the county unless the county requests that the bill be enacted without an appropriation.

            The bill creates the Judicial Expansion Reserve Fund in the State Treasury, and authorizes counties to apply for moneys in the fund. The State Court Administrator is authorized to pay to each county the lesser of: (1) the actual increased costs due to increased judicial personnel; or (2) the amount appropriated to the fund for that county’s estimated increased costs. The bill is effective upon signature of the Governor.

            The Legislative Council indicates that although the bill will require some up-front work to set up an assessment model to analyze county capital construction and operating costs, costs will be minimal and can be absorbed within existing resources. The bill does not require any new moneys for the Judicial Expansion Reserve Fund; rather, it places requirements on bills introduced after July 1, 1998, which may result in additional judicial personnel. Therefore, this bill is assessed as having no fiscal impact.

Departments Contacted

            Judicial

            Legislative Council