LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE 74th Regular Session April 3, 1995 TO: Honorable John Whitmire, Chair IN RE: Senate BillNo. 1379 Committee on Criminal Justice By: Wentworth Senate Austin, Texas FROM: John Keel, Director In response to your request for a Fiscal Note on Senate Bill No. 1379 (relating to prosecutor assistance by the Office of the Attorney General of Texas; and making an appropriation) this office has determined the following: The bill would prevent any challenges to the legitimacy of the role of the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) Prosecutor Assistance Division in criminal prosecution once a district or county attorney has requested aid. The bill would amend the Government Code to state that a prosecuting attorney may request prosecution assistance of the attorney general, and that the assistant attorney general may be appointed and deputized by a prosecuting attorney or by a judge. The bill would disallow defense attorneys or judges to construe a portion of the Government Code to disqualify the participation for the OAF prosecutor Assistance Division. Moneys credited to the attorney general account and the attorney general law enforcement account are hereby appropriated. Unexpended balances credited to the accounts at the end of a biennium are carried over to the next successive biennium. Amounts from each account cannot be determined at this time. No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated. The fiscal implication to units of local government cannot be determined. Source: Office of the Attorney General LBB Staff: JK, JC, DF, RR