LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
 
FISCAL NOTE, 79TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
 
April 9, 2005

TO:
Honorable Terry Keel, Chair, House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence
 
FROM:
John S. O'Brien, Deputy Director, Legislative Budget Board
 
IN RE:
HB3265 by Straus (Relating to the declaration of a mistrial in the punishment phase of a criminal proceeding.), As Introduced

No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would require that if a jury fails to agree on the issue of guilt or innocence, the judge shall declare a mistrial and discharge the jury, and jeopardy would not be attached. In addition, if a jury finds a defendant guilty and the jury is to consider the punishment but cannot agree on the punishment, the judge would be required to declare a mistrial only in the punishment phase of the trial, and would be required to discharge the jury and impanel a new jury as soon as practicable.

The bill would take effect September 1, 2005 and would apply only to a trial in which a jury renders a guilty verdict on or after that date.


Local Government Impact

The bill could have a positive fiscal impact on units of local government that would vary by court.  A mistrial would no longer be declared if a jury agreed on guilt or innocence in the case, but did not agree on the punishment. Although a new jury would be required for the punishment phase, the court would not incur the cost of re-trying the entire case from start to finish (which they would in the case of a mistrial).



Source Agencies:
212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council
LBB Staff:
JOB, KJG, DLBa