78R3989 JRD-D

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 319.001-319.004, 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 state auditor 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 deliver a copy of the impact 
statement to the author of the bill or resolution and to each member 
of a legislative committee to which the bill or resolution is 
referred not later than the fifth day after the date the bill or 
resolution is referred to the committee.
	SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2003.