By:  Armbrister                                       S.B. No. 1348
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to requiring a court cost impact statement on a bill or
 1-3     resolution that imposes a court cost on a person charged with a
 1-4     criminal offense.
 1-5           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-6           SECTION 1.  Chapter 314, Government Code, is amended by
 1-7     adding Section 314.005 to read as follows:
 1-8           Sec. 314.005.  IMPOSING COURT COSTS ON CERTAIN CRIMINAL
 1-9     DEFENDANTS.  (a)  The state auditor shall prepare an impact
1-10     statement for each bill or resolution proposing a constitutional
1-11     amendment that proposes a new court cost or fee or an increase in
1-12     the amount of a court cost or fee on a person charged with a
1-13     criminal offense, including a court cost or fee charged on
1-14     conviction or other disposition or postponed disposition of the
1-15     criminal charge.
1-16           (b)  The impact statement must show the total amount of court
1-17     costs and fees that persons will be required to pay under the bill
1-18     or resolution when considered together with all other applicable
1-19     laws.
1-20           (c)  The state auditor shall deliver a copy of the impact
1-21     statement to the author of the bill or resolution and to each
1-22     member of a legislative committee to which the bill or resolution
1-23     is referred not later than the fifth day after the date the bill or
1-24     resolution is referred to the committee.
1-25           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.