FISCAL NOTE

Senate Bill 291 as introduced provides for additional circuit judgeships in the 23rd, 19th, and 28th Judicial Circuits. According to the Administrative Office of Courts, this would increase the obligations of the State General Fund by an estimated $331,500 for fiscal year 2021 and an estimated $1.3 million dollars for fiscal years 2022 and thereafter to fill 3 additional circuit judgeships and 9 support positions.

In addition, this bill provides that effective January 16, 2023, or at any point prior, if the positions are vacated, Circuit Judgeships in Place 16 and Place 21 in the 10th Judicial Circuit are terminated. Further, this bill provides that the Judicial Resources Allocation Commission shall reallocate the first circuit judgeship that becomes vacant after the effective date of this act, and the second vacancy shall be terminated. These changes would decrease the obligations of the State General Fund by an undetermined amount and would offset the increases to the State General Fund after January 16, 2023, from adding the 3 additional circuit judgeships and 9 support positions.