By: Armbrister S.B. No. 1377 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to the authority of the state auditor to review the use of 1-3 money collected as court costs. 1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-5 SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 403, Government Code, is 1-6 amended by adding Section 403.0145 to read as follows: 1-7 Sec. 403.0145. REVIEW AND OVERSIGHT OF FUNDS AND ACCOUNTS 1-8 RECEIVING COURT COSTS. (a) Each fiscal biennium the state auditor 1-9 shall review each fund and account into which money collected as a 1-10 court cost is directed by law to be deposited to determine whether: 1-11 (1) the money is being used for the purpose for which 1-12 it is collected; and 1-13 (2) the amount of the court cost imposed is 1-14 appropriate, considering the purpose for which the court cost is 1-15 collected. 1-16 (b) Not later than December 1 of each even-numbered year, 1-17 the state auditor shall make the findings from the review for the 1-18 previous fiscal biennium available to the public and shall send a 1-19 report of the state auditor's findings to the governor, the 1-20 lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, 1-21 the chief justice of the supreme court, and the presiding judge of 1-22 the court of criminal appeals. The findings may include 1-23 recommendations for legislation or changes to policies. 1-24 SECTION 2. (a) This Act takes effect September 1, 2001. 1-25 (b) The first report required under Section 403.0145, 2-1 Government Code, as added by this Act, is due December 1, 2002.