LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE, 77th Regular Session April 18, 2001 TO: Honorable Rodney Ellis, Chair, Senate Committee on Finance FROM: John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE: SB1377 by Armbrister (Relating to the authority of the comptroller to review the use of money collected as court costs.), As Introduced ************************************************************************** * No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated. * ************************************************************************** The bill would amend the Government Code to require the Comptroller to review and report on those funds and accounts receiving court costs revenue. The purpose of the review would be to determine if the amount of a court cost was appropriate, given the reason for which it is collected; and to verify the proper use of the revenue. No later than December 1 of every even-numbered year, the Comptroller would submit a report detailing the findings to the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, and the Presiding Judge of the Court of Criminal Appeals. The Comptroller could include recommendations for legislation in the report. This bill would take effect September 1, 2001. The first report would be due December 1, 2002. The Comptroller's office indicates there would be no significant administrative costs. Local Government Impact No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated. Source Agencies: 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts LBB Staff: JK, SD, WP