| TO: | Honorable Jeff Wentworth, Chair, Senate Committee on Jurisprudence |
| FROM: | John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board |
| IN RE: | HB368 by Hartnett (Relating to disposition of surplus computer equipment and the grant of money by the Office of Court Administration.), As Engrossed |
The bill would amend Chapters 72, 77, and 2175 of the Government Code, relating to the disposition of surplus computer equipment and the grant of money by the Office of Court Administration (OCA).
The bill would amend Section 72.021 to allow OCA to award grants to local or state governmental entities in the judicial branch relating to information technology and technological support for the judiciary. OCA would have to submit an annual report to the Legislative Budget Board in reference to these grants and be subject to audit by the Comptroller and State Auditor. Grants would be awarded from OCA’s existing appropriation and do not reflect increased costs to the state.
The bill would amend Subchapter F, Chapter 2175 to exempt OCA from certain requirements relating to the disposition of surplus computer equipment. OCA would have to give preference to a local or state governmental entity in the judicial branch of local or state government when disposing surplus computer equipment. OCA reports that at most the annual value of surplus personal computers and laptops available for disposition would be $855 per year, therefore to the extent surplus computer equipment is donated to a local government entity instead of a state government entity, the statewide fiscal implication is not significant.
The bill would repeal Section 77.032 of the Government Code relating to the creation of the Judicial Technology Account.
The bill would take effect September 1, 2007.
| Source Agencies: | 212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council, 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts, 308 State Auditor's Office
|
| LBB Staff: | JOB, MN, ZS, TB
|