BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 5371

By: Moody

Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

El Paso residents note that County Criminal Court at Law No. 2 in El Paso County has a long history as one of the oldest and most successful DWI intervention courts in the state. However, the designation is discretionary for local officials, who could simply choose to redesignate the court, depriving El Pasoans of a crucial criminal justice resource. C.S.H.B. 5371 seeks to address this issue by designating County Criminal Court at Law No. 2 of El Paso County as a DWI Drug Court Intervention and Treatment Program.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 5371 amends the Government Code to designate the County Criminal Court at Law No. 2 of El Paso County to conduct the DWI Drug Court Intervention and Treatment Program of El Paso County as a specialty drug court program for persons arrested for, charged with, or convicted of an offense involving the operation of a motor vehicle while intoxicated.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2023.

COMPARISON OF INTRODUCED AND SUBSTITUTE

C.S.H.B. 5371 differs from the introduced in minor or nonsubstantive ways by conforming to certain bill drafting conventions.