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.