BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center                                                                                                        S.B. 496

80R5342 YDB-D                                                                                                            By: Duncan

Jurisprudence

2/26/2007

As Filed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Current law restricts the use of the judicial and court training fund the training of judges and attorneys. As proposed, S.B. 496 allows Fund 540, the judicial and court training fund, to be used to train attorneys, judges, law enforcement officers, law students, and other participants in cases of indigent representation. This bill clarifies that the fund may be used to train law students.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

Rulemaking authority previously granted to the court of criminal appeals is modified in SECTION 3 (Section 56.006, Government Code) of this bill.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Sections 56.003(a) and (f), Government Code, as follows:

(a) Prohibits the court of criminal appeals from using more than three percent of appropriated money in any one fiscal year to hire staff and properly administer this chapter (Judicial and Court Personnel Training Fund) unless additional money is specifically appropriated or provided for the purposes of this subsection by the legislature.

(f) Adds law enforcement officers, law students, and other participants to those persons to whom legal funds are required to be granted by the court of criminal appeals.

SECTION 2. Amends Section 56.004(b), Government Code, to make a conforming change.

SECTION 3. Amends Sections 56.006(a) and (b), Government Code, to make conforming changes.

SECTION 4. Effective date: September 1, 2007.