BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

                                                                                                                                    C.S.H.B. 1934

                                                                                                                      By: Gonzalez Toureilles

                                                                                                                                              Judiciary

                                                                                                        Committee Report (Substituted)

 

 

 

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

 

Current law mandates a defendant convicted of a misdemeanor offense in a justice court, county court, county court at law or district court pay a $3 security fee as a cost of the court.  This fee is collected by the county or municipal treasurer.  This fund can only be used for measures specified in Art. 102.017(d) of the Code of Criminal Procedure.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. 

 

ANALYSIS

 

HB 1934 amends Article 102.017(b), (d) and (e) and adds a new section (d-1).  It increases the security fee to $4 for convictions in justice court. The bill also establishes a "justice court building security fund" by using one dollar of the $4 fee when collected by a court not housed in the county courthouse. The fund is restricted to use for security services for a justice court not housed in the county courthouse.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE

 

September 1, 2005

 

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE

 

The substitute amends the heading of Article 102.017 to include "justice court building security fund". The substitute adds a paragraph stating that the subsection dealing with the fund applies only to a justice court in a county where one or more justice courts are located in a building outside the county courthouse.