By:  Farabee                                                      H.B. No. 2658



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to grants to counties for indigent criminal defense.                 
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 71.062(c), Government Code, is amended 
to read as follows:
	(c)  The Task Force on Indigent Defense shall develop 
policies to ensure that funds under Subsection (a)(2) are allocated 
and distributed to counties in a fair manner.  Formula grants based 
upon data available to the Task Force from current sources shall be 
distributed to counties in compliance with the requirements of 
state law relating to indigent defense without the necessity of 
additional applications or reports.
	SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives 
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as 
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this 
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this 
act takes effect September 1, 2003.