SRC-PNG H.B. 3418 76(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 3418
By: Gallego (Harris)
Administration
5/9/1999
Engrossed


DIGEST 

Teleconferencing technology has provided an increasingly efficient and
cost-effective way for the judiciary to address transferred cases.  This
bill would authorize the payment of expenses incurred by the use of
teleconferencing technology from funds designated for the transfer of a
case, to promote teleconferencing.  This bill would also provide that the
use of teleconferencing to hear oral argument is at the discretion of the
chief justice or presiding judge of the respective court. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, H.B. 3418 authorizes the payment of expenses incurred by the
use of teleconferencing technology from funds designated for the transfer
of a case, to promote teleconferencing, and provides that the use of
teleconferencing to hear oral argument is at the discretion of the chief
justice or presiding judge of the respective court. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 73.003(e), Government Code, to authorize a court,
at the discretion of its chief justice, and without the consent of the
parties, to hear oral argument through the use of teleconferencing
technology, and to provide for the payment by the state of expenses
incurred through such use from funds appropriated for the transfer of the
case. 

SECTION 2. Amends Section 22.302(a), Government Code, to authorize the
supreme court, court of criminal appeals, or a court of appeals, at the
discretion of its chief justice or presiding judge, and without the consent
of the parties, to order the presentation of oral argument through the use
of teleconferencing technology. 

SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 1999.

SECTION 4. Emergency clause.