By:  Armbrister                                                   S.B. No. 458


A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to requiring a court cost impact statement on a bill or 
resolution that imposes a court cost on a person charged with a 
criminal offense.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  The heading to Chapter 319, Government Code, is 
amended to read as follows:

CHAPTER 319.  LEGISLATION REGARDING JUDICIAL SYSTEM

[IMPACT NOTES]
	SECTION 2.  Sections 319.001 through 319.004, Government 
Code, are designated as Subchapter A of Chapter 319 and the 
following heading is added to that subchapter:

SUBCHAPTER A.  JUDICIAL SYSTEM IMPACT NOTES
	SECTION 3.  Chapter 319, Government Code, is amended by 
adding Subchapter B to read as follows:

SUBCHAPTER B.  LEGISLATION RELATING TO COURT COSTS
	Sec. 319.021.  IMPACT STATEMENT ON LEGISLATION IMPOSING 
COURT COSTS ON CRIMINAL DEFENDANTS.  (a)  The Legislative Budget 
Board shall prepare an impact statement for each resolution 
proposing a constitutional amendment or bill that proposes imposing 
a new court cost or fee on a person charged with a criminal offense 
or increasing the amount of an existing court cost or fee imposed on 
a person charged with a criminal offense, including a court cost or 
fee imposed on conviction or other disposition or postponed 
disposition of the criminal charge.
	(b)  The impact statement must show the total amount of court 
costs and fees that persons will be required to pay under the bill 
or resolution when considered together with all other applicable 
laws.
	(c)  The state auditor shall provide the Legislative Budget 
Board with the initial data needed to develop a mechanism that will 
be used to produce the impact statements.
	SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2003.