Honorable Terry Keel, Chair, House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence
FROM:
John S. O'Brien, Deputy Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB3131 by Martinez Fischer (Relating to the payment of court costs required in connection with the suspension of sentence and deferral of final disposition in certain misdemeanor traffic cases.), As Introduced
No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would provide an alternative to requiring a defendant charged with more than one misdemeanor traffic offense to make payment of all court costs. A judge would have discretion to allow the defendant to pay the costs in installments during the defendant's period of community supervision (probation), to discharge all or part of those costs by performing community service work, or both. 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
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.