| TO: | Honorable Terry Keel, Chair, House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence |
| FROM: | John S. O'Brien, Deputy Director, Legislative Budget Board |
| IN RE: | HB1778 by King, Phil (Relating to the electronic creation, transmission, and use of certain documents related to the prosecution of a criminal offense.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted |
The bill would authorize a judge or clerk of the court to receive for filing purposes an information, indictment, complaint, or other charging instrument or a related document in electronic form if certain conditions exist, such as the clerk's ability to display or otherwise make the document available in electronic form to the public at no charge. The bill would also authorize a district clerk, county clerk, or court to issue in electronic form a capias for the failure of a person to appear before a court, pay a fine, or comply with a court order.
None of the requirements in the proposed new section of statute would affect the applicability of other law permitting the collection of fees for the provision of services related to court documents.
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.
If a court chooses to transmit applicable documents electronically and already has the electronic means in place, the court would experience a savings related to administrative activities.
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
| Source Agencies: |
| LBB Staff: | JOB, KJG, DLBa
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