By: Hartnett

(Senate Sponsor - Watson) H.B. No. 368

(In the Senate - Received from the House March 19, 2007; April 3, 2007, read first time and referred to Committee on Jurisprudence; April 19, 2007, reported favorably by the following vote: Yeas 6, Nays 0; April 19, 2007, sent to printer.)

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to disposition of surplus computer equipment and the grant of money by the Office of Court Administration.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 72.021, Government Code, is amended by adding Subsections (c) and (d) to read as follows:

(c) The office may award a grant of money to a local or state governmental entity in the judicial branch of local or state government to fund programs that:

(1) are approved by the Judicial Committee on Information Technology under Chapter 77; and

(2) provide technological support for the judiciary.

(d) At the end of each fiscal year, the office shall file with the Legislative Budget Board a report on the amount, recipient, and purpose for each grant awarded under Subsection (c). All money expended under a grant awarded under Subsection (c) is subject to audit by the comptroller and the state auditor.

SECTION 2. Subchapter F, Chapter 2175, Government Code, is amended by adding Section 2175.307 to read as follows:

Sec. 2175.307. EXCEPTION FOR OFFICE OF COURT ADMINISTRATION. This chapter does not apply to the disposition of surplus computer equipment by the Office of Court Administration of the Texas Judicial System. The office shall give preference to transferring the equipment to a local or state governmental entity in the judicial branch of local or state government.

SECTION 3. Section 77.032, Government Code, is repealed.

SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2007.

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