PMWJ H.B. 3060 75(R)BILL ANALYSIS JUDICIAL AFFAIRS H.B. 3060 By: King 4-16-97 Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND The Texas Supreme Court granted its permission for the Medina County Court at Law to electronically record civil proceedings after July 7, 1995, and has reported that these proceedings have successfully been recorded thus far. The Medina County Court at Law owns a high quality recording system and has reported substantial savings to Medina County. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals has granted its permission for criminal proceedings to be electronically recorded by several counties across the state; however, permission to record criminal matters has yet to be granted for the Medina County Court at Law. As a result, the Medina County Court at Law has been required to sporadically use independently contracted court reporters at a high cost to the county. The Medina County Commissioner's Court unanimously voted in favor of a resolution requesting legislation which would allow the Medina County Court at Law to electronically record criminal proceedings. This Act would save Medina County an estimated $5,000 per year. PURPOSE H.B. 3060 allows the Medina County Court at Law to electronically record all criminal proceedings without first obtaining permission to do so from the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals. 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. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1 amends Section 25.1652, Government Code, by adding Subsection (j) which states that a judge of a county court may provide that any criminal proceeding may be recorded by a high quality electronic recording device. The defendant may file a written motion ten days or more in advance of the trial to request that a court reporter be present. A court reporter does not need to be present to certify the statement of facts if an electronic recording device is used. SECTION 2. Emergency clause. Effective date.