H.B. 3273 78(R) BILL ANALYSIS H.B. 3273 By: Gallego Judicial Affairs Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The 75th Legislature created the Judicial Committee on Information Technology ("JCIT") in 1997 to facilitate the systematic implementation and integration of information technology in the Texas court system. H.B. 3273 permits the Office of Court Administration ("OCA") to use appropriated funds in furtherance of this objective. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS H.B. 3273 amends the Government Code to provide that upon recommendation of the Judicial Committee on Information Technology ("JCIT") and approval by the Chief Justice, the Office of Court Administration ("OCA") may use appropriated funds to grant funding to or purchase equipment to be provided to trial courts to provide technological support in order to improve the efficient administration of justice. The bill also mandates that the JCIT recommend distributions of funds or equipment to courts from the judicial technology account in the judicial fund or from general appropriations to the OCA in order to improve the efficient administration of justice. EFFECTIVE DATE Upon passage, or, if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect on September 1, 2003.