LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                              Austin, Texas
                                     
                    FISCAL NOTE, 77th Regular Session
  
                             February 7, 2001
  
  
          TO:  Honorable Senfronia Thompson, Chair, House Committee on
               Judicial Affairs
  
        FROM:  John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
  
       IN RE:  HB177  by Luna, Vilma (Relating to the authority of the
               commissioners court of a county to create a justice court
               technology fund and to require certain defendants to pay
               court costs for deposit in the fund.), As Introduced
  
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*  No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.                    *
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Local Government Impact
  
The bill would create an optional justice court technology court cost of
up to $4 on Class C misdemeanor offenses.  The fund would be approved and
administered by the county commissioner's court.  The fund would finance
the purchase of specific technological enhancements for the justice of
the peace courts.

The bill would take effect on September 1, 2001 and would apply only to
an offense committed on or after that date and before September 1, 2005.

Current law provides that only municipal courts may collect an additional
local technology court cost of up to $4 with the approval of their city
councils. The  following estimates were made based on the maximum rate of
$4 per offense over a 12-month period:

The Comal County Treasurer estimated that approximately 21,011 total
offenses would generate additional revenue of $84,044 for computer
technology in their four justice of the peace courts.

Montgomery County estimated 40,662 offenses for a projected revenue of
$162,648 in additional funds.

Hansford County estimated 600 cases for additional collections of $2400.

Taylor County estimated 30,520 offenses for an additional $122,080 for
computer technology in their five justice of the peace courts.

Two of the four justice of the peace courts in Kerr County estimated
1,828 offenses for additional collections of $7,312.

Based on the maximum proposed rate of $4 per offense, there would be a
significant revenue gain to counties to be used on computer technology
in their justice of the peace courts.  The gain would vary by county,
depending on size and caseload. The bill would have no fiscal
implications after September 1, 2005.
  
  
Source Agencies:   304   Comptroller of Public Accounts
LBB Staff:         JK, TB, JB, DB