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: SB1379 by Armbrister (Relating to the implementation of a change in law imposing or changing the amount of certain court costs and fees.), As Introduced ************************************************************************** * No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated. * ************************************************************************** The bill would amend the government Code to require the Comptroller, after each regular legislative session, to identify laws enacted by the Legislature relating to imposition or the amending of court costs or court fees collected on behalf of the state. The Comptroller would prepare and publish a list of the affected costs or fees in the Texas Register no later than August 1 after each regular session. The list would include a statement detailing the date of imposition and the change in the amount of the fee or cost. The bill would establish January 1 as the date of imposition for new or amended court costs or court fees enacted by legislation. Further, the bill would provide a procedure for the specific exemption of court costs or court fees from the provisions of this legislation. This bill would take effect immediately upon enactment, assuming that it received the requisite two-thirds majority votes in both houses of the Legislature. Otherwise, it would take effect September 1, 2001. This bill would not affect laws that took effect before August 27, 2001, but it would affect laws that took effect August 27, 2001, or later, if this bill were to take effect before July 1, 2001. The Comptroller's office indicates there would be no administrative costs associated with the bill. 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