LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 79TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

February 22, 2005

TO:	Honorable Terry Keel, Chair, House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence
FROM:	John S. O'Brien, Deputy Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB1375 by Jones, Jesse (Relating to the manner of administering oaths for certain electronically transmitted documents in justice or municipal court.), As Introduced

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would authorize the acceptance of an oath sworn for a complaint charging the accused with commission of an offense or other related document transmitted electronically if all or part of the document was sworn to and the electronic form states which parts of the document were sworn to and the name of the officer administering the oath. The bill would take effect immediately if it receives the required two-thirds vote in each house; otherwise, it would take effect September 1, 2005.

Allowing for an oath to be accepted for electronically transmitted documents would provide a savings for the law enforcement agency by reducing the amount of travel an officer must incur to otherwise provide an oath in person at another location.

Local Government Impact

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

Source Agencies:

LBB Staff:

JOB, KJG, DLBa