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F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T

SPONSOR Park

DATE TYPED 2/7/05

HB 655

SHORT TITLE Second District Court Family Counselor

SB

ANALYST McSherry

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained Estimated Additional Impact Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY05

FY06

FY05

FY06

NFI

$63.0

NFI Indeterminate Recurring General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC)

Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

House Bill 655 appropriates $63.0 thousand from the general fund to the Second District Judicial

District Court for the purpose of funding a full-time family counselor in the District’s Children’s

Court.

Significant Issues

The Second Judicial District Court included the family counselor in the agency’s budget request.

The proposed funding, and associated FTE, are not included in the LFC or executive recommen-

dation.

The Judiciary Compensation Plan cites a salary range for a Family Counselor as $38.2 thousand

to $59.6 thousand; $47.7 thousand is listed as the position midpoint.

According to the Administrative Office of the Courts, the second judicial district court’s request

is part of the judiciary’s Unified Budget and includes $58.7 thousand in recurring funds and $4.3

thousand in one-time costs. AOC asserts that the judiciary identified the family counselor as be-

ing critical to the efficient operation of the courts for the second judicial district, along with other

positions.

House Bill 655 -- Page 2

PERFORMANCE IMPLICATIONS

The AOC does not provide examples of what performance measures would improve, nor suggest

a performance measure to demonstrate the implications of the new position. However, the AOC

asserts that staff changes should improve the approved output performance measures of the

court.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $63.0 thousand contained in this bill is a recurring expense in the amount of

$58.7 thousand and a one-time expense in the amount of $4.3 thousand to the general fund. Any

unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2006 shall revert to the

general fund.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

The AOC provides that the proposed counselor would assist in the juvenile drug court wilderness

program activity and that the proposed position is necessary for the continuation and success of

the second district juvenile drug court program. AOC states that his position would provide in-

dividual/family and group session counseling services to the juvenile drug court, “Say No to

Abusing Power” program (SNAP), and “Program for the Empowerment of Girls” (PEG).

WHAT WILL BE THE CONSEQUENCES OF NOT ENACTING THIS BILL.

According to the AOC, the second judicial district would not have adequate funding to support

the current level of court operations. Information regarding what change would disallow the cur-

rent level of court operations was not provided.

POSSIBLE QUESTIONS

1.

What will disallow the Second Judicial District Court to support current level of opera-

tions as stated by the AOC. Is a source of funding being lost, or levels of counselor use

increasing.

EM/yr/njw