LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 78TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

Revision 1

April 24, 2003

TO:	Honorable Terry Keel, Chair, House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence
FROM:	John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	SB1224 by Ellis, Rodney (Relating to the appointment of counsel for an indigent applicant for a writ of habeas corpus in a capital case. ), Committee Report 2nd House, Substituted

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would amend the Code of Criminal Procedure regarding the entity responsible for setting standards for counsel appointed to represent a person in an application for a writ of habeas corpus in which the person is seeking relief from a judgment imposing the death penalty. The bill transfers this responsibility from the Court of Criminal Appeals to the Task Force on Indigent Defense.  The bill would also set certain required standards for such counsel. 

The bill would take effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house; otherwise the bill would take effect on September 1, 2003.

Local Government Impact

No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.

Source Agencies:	212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council
LBB Staff:	JK, WK, VDS, TB, KG