By: Armbrister S.B. No. 458
(In the Senate - Filed February 12, 2003; February 17, 2003,
read first time and referred to Committee on Criminal Justice;
March 13, 2003, reported adversely, with favorable Committee
Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 5, Nays 0; March 13, 2003,
sent to printer.)
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 458 By: Williams
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.
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