TO:	Honorable Jeff Leach, Chair, House Committee on Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence
FROM:	Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB1627 by Hernandez (Relating to implicit bias training for justices and judges of state courts, judicial officers, certain court personnel, and attorneys licensed to practice law in this state.), As Introduced

The bill would amend the Government Code to require certain judges, judicial officers, and court personnel to complete a training course on implicit bias regarding racial, ethnic, gender, religious, age, mental disability, and physical disability and sexual harassment training. The bill would provide course material requirements and would require the Court of Criminal Appeals (CCA) to approve a course that provides the instruction required by the bill and would outline what training the course instructor must have. The bill would require the amount of training and how often it must be completed. The bill would require the CCA to adopt rules to implement the provisions of the bill.

The bill would require licensed attorneys in the State to attend training on implicit bias and bias-reducing strategies as part of continuing education requirements. The Texas State Bar would be required to approved continuing education under the new provisions.

The Office of Court Administration indicates the training would need to be provided by experts in the field, but is unable to determine the cost of providing the training for the judges, judicial officers, and court personnel required by the bill at this time. 

Local Government Impact

No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.