Honorable John Whitmire, Chair, Senate Committee on Criminal Justice
FROM:
John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
SB543 by Duncan (Relating to postconviction DNA testing. ), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend the Motion for Forensic DNA Testing Chapter of the Code of Criminal Procedure by allowing indigents access to appointed counsel if the court finds reasonable grounds for a motion to be filed.The Office of Court estimates that the bill may result in a positive fiscal impact to the State, to the extent that there would be fewer situations where legal counsel is appointed at the cost of the State.
Local Government Impact
According to the Office of Court Administration, the bill would have a positive fiscal impact on local government because some county funds go to pay for legal counsel in some of these cases. To the extent that there would be fewer situations where legal counsel is appointed, the cost to counties would decrease.
Source Agencies:
212 Office Of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council, 696 Department Of Criminal Justice