HBA-SEB S.B. 601 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisS.B. 601 By: Moncrief Judicial Affairs 5/6/1999 Engrossed BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE In 1995, the 74th Texas Legislature passed a law that allowed municipal courts to use computer technology to conduct court business. Cities require new computer hardware, software, and a court management system to implement this technology. S.B. 601 authorizes the governing body of a municipality to establish a municipal court technology fund to be funded through fees assessed as court costs. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter A, Chapter 102, Code of Criminal Procedure, by adding Article 102.0172, as follows: Art. 102.0172. COURT COSTS; MUNICIPAL COURT TECHNOLOGY FUND. (a) Authorizes the governing body of a municipality, by ordinance, to create a municipal court technology fund and to require a defendant convicted of a misdemeanor offense in a municipal court or municipal court of record to pay a technology fee not to exceed $6 as a cost of court. (b) Provides that in this article, a person is convicted if a sentence is imposed on the person, the person receives probation or deferred adjudication, or the court defers final disposition of the person's case. (c) Requires the municipal court clerk to collect the cost of court provided by this article and to pay the funds collected to the municipal treasurer or other official for deposit in a fund to be known as the municipal court technology fund. (d) Authorizes the municipal court technology fund to be used only to finance the purchase of technological enhancements for a municipal court or municipal court of record, including but not limited to computer systems, computer networks, computer hardware, computer software, imaging systems, electronic kiosks, electronic ticket writers, and docket management systems. (e) Requires the municipal court technology fund to be administered by or under the direction of the governing body of the municipality. (f) Provides that this article expires September 1, 2005. SECTION 2. Makes application of this Act prospective. SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 1999. SECTION 4. Emergency clause.