BILL ANALYSIS
By: Hartnett
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
The Office of Court Administration has made and desires to continue making grants of cash and used equipment to courts to provide assistance, primarily in the areas of connectivity, case management and collections. The purpose of this bill is to provide a clear statutory basis for such activity.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS
Section 1 of the bill amends the Government Code to allow the Office of Court Administration to award a grant of money to a local or state governmental entity in the judicial branch to fund programs that are approved by the Judicial Committee on Information Technology and provide technological support for the judiciary. The office would be required by the bill to file with the Legislative Budget Board an annual report on the amount, recipient and purpose of each award. Expenditures under such awards would be subject to audit by the comptroller.
Section 2 of the bill would amend the Government Code to provide exempt the Office of Court Administration from the application of Chapter 2175 of the Government Code with respect to the distribution of surplus computer equipment. The office is required to give preference to state and local entities in the judicial branch of local or state government.
Section 3 repeals Section 77.032 of the Government Code, which pertains to the Judicial Technology Account.
EFFECTIVE DATE
September 1, 2007