Enrolled Bill Summary

House Bill 184	House Author:  Dale et al.
Effective:  Vetoed	Senate Sponsor:  Schwertner

            House Bill 184 amends the Code of Criminal Procedure to make the state responsible for costs incurred in conducting a court of inquiry if the subject of the inquiry was an officer or employee of the state at the time of the alleged offense.

 

Reason Given for Veto: "Courts of inquiry are criminal proceedings initiated by a local district judge. Current law appropriately requires the costs of these proceedings to be borne by the county where they take place, just as the costs of other criminal proceedings are largely borne by counties. Because the decision to conduct a court of inquiry rests with a local district judge, it makes sense for the costs of the proceeding to be borne at the local level. House Bill 184 would inappropriately shift these costs to the State in certain cases."