H.B. 3624 78(R) BILL ANALYSIS H.B. 3624 By: Quintanilla Judicial Affairs Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The general law for municipal courts of record in Texas is that municipalities must provide a court reporter to preserve the record in cases tried before a municipal court of record. This general rule, however, does provide that a good quality electronic recording device may be used instead of a court reporter in certain circumstances. Currently, the statutory section specific to the municipal court of record for the City of El Paso does not allow the use of an electronic recording device. This results in unnecessary expense to the city. H.B. 3624 allows the City of El Paso to follow the general rule permitting the use of electronic recording devices in its municipal court of record. 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. 3624 amends the Government Code to permit the municipal court of record for City of El Paso to record its proceedings by a good quality electronic recording device under certain conditions. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2003.