SRC-BWC H.B. 3664 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center H.B. 3664 77R4324 YDB-DBy: Thompson (Whitmire) Criminal Justice 5/1/2001 Engrossed DIGEST AND PURPOSE Under current law, the jurisdiction and duties of criminal law hearing officers in Harris County for Class A and Class B misdemeanors is limited to performing post arrest magistrate duties. Expanding the jurisdiction of these officers to include the enforcement of judgments in criminal cases may reduce the time between arrest and appearance before a judicial officer, reduce unnecessary incarceration, increase the collection of restitution, fines, and costs from those offenders able to pay, and provide a speedy release mechanism for indigent offenders. H.B. 3664 expands the jurisdiction and duties of criminal law hearing officers in Harris County to include the enforcement of judgments in criminal cases. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 54.856(a), Government Code, to add enforcing judgments and orders of the county criminal courts at law in criminal cases to the list of duties authorized to be performed by a criminal law hearing officer appointed under this subchapter. SECTION 2. Amends Section 54.858, Government Code, by adding Subsection (f) to authorize a criminal law hearing officer to enforce judgments and orders of the county criminal courts at law in criminal cases. SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 2001.