HBA-NMO S.C.R. 14 76(R)BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisS.C.R. 14 By: Ellis Judicial Affairs 5/10/1999 Engrossed BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE A 1996 survey by the Office of Court Administration of the Texas Judicial System revealed that county-level courts have a collection rate of 61 percent for an average loss of $412,000 in uncollected fines, while district courts collect just 26 percent for an average loss of $570,000. A computerized collections system and other information technologies may better enable the courts to track and assess the repayment status and residency of defendants, provide other information necessary in collecting debts, facilitate the transfer of information, and thus enhance the courts' collection efforts and improve their fine collection rates. S.C.R. 14 provides that the 76th Texas Legislature request the Office of Court Administration of the Texas Judicial System to work with the Judicial Committee on Information Technology to develop recommendations for using technology and training to notify counties in which an offense has been committed of the defendant's residency and the fine's repayment status. 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. ANALYSIS S.C.R. provides that the 76th Texas Legislature request the Office of Court Administration of the Texas Judicial System to work with the Judicial Committee on Information Technology to develop recommendations for using technology and training to notify counties in which an offense has been committed of the defendant's residency and the fine's repayment status and that the office submit its recommendations to the legislature no later than January 1, 2001. Provides that the secretary of state forward an official copy of this resolution to the director of the Office of Court Administration of the Texas Judicial System and to the presiding officer of the Judicial Committee on Information Technology.