LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 79TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

March 2, 2005

TO:	Honorable Will Hartnett, Chair, House Committee on Judiciary
FROM:	John S. O'Brien, Deputy Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB1418 by Gonzalez Toureilles (Relating to the justice court technology fund.), As Introduced

No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would repeal the expiration date that applies to the creation of a justice court technology fund, therefore, continuing authorization of a commissioners court to create a justice court technology fund and to require a defendant convicted of a misdemeanor offense in a justice court to pay a technology fee not to exceed $4. 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.

Local Government Impact

If the expiration date were to remain in place, then after September 1, 2005, the counties in which the justice court technology fund exists would no longer be allowed to impose the court cost and would therefore experience the loss of a revenue source used for purchasing technology enhancements. Implementation of the provisions of the bill would allow the continuation of that revenue source. The amount of revenue generated would vary by county in which the fund has been established. The amount of revenue generated is not significant. For example, in fiscal year 2004, statewide there were 209,049 misdemeanor convictions reported in justice courts (based on an activity report generated online at the Office of Court Administration website). If every justice court were to have a technology fund and were to impose the maximum $4 court cost for each misdemeanor conviction, there would have been $836,196 in revenue generated in fiscal year 2004.

Source Agencies:

LBB Staff:

JOB, DLBa