SRC-EPT, TBR S.B. 1377 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research CenterS.B. 1377 By: Armbrister Finance 6/14/2001 Enrolled DIGEST AND PURPOSE There is no state oversight of court costs that are collected by cities and counties. S.B. 1377 requires the state auditor to conduct a biennial review and to exercise continuing oversight for each fund to which court costs are being deposited to determine if the funds are being used as intended and whether the court costs are appropriate. 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 Chapter 321, Government Code, by adding Section 321.017, as follows: Sec. 321.017. REVIEW AND OVERSIGHT OF FUNDS AND ACCOUNTS RECEIVING COURT COSTS. (a) Authorizes the state auditor to review each fund and account into which money collected as a court cost is directed by law to be deposited to determine whether the money is being used for the purpose or purposes for which the money is collected and the amount of the court cost is appropriate, considering the purpose or purposes for which the cost is collected. (b) Authorizes the state auditor to perform reviews under this section as specified in the audit plan developed under Section 321.013. (c) Requires the state auditor to make the findings of a review performed under this section available to the public and to report the findings to the governor, the chief justice of the supreme court, the presiding judge of the court of criminal appeals, and the committee. Authorizes the report to include the state auditor's recommendations for legislation or policy changes. SECTION 2. (a) Effective date: September 1, 2001. (b) Requires the state auditor, notwithstanding Section 321.017(b), Government Code, as added by this Act, to perform and complete a review described by Subsection (a) of that section and report the findings of the review before December 1, 2002.