LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 80TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

March 12, 2007

TO:	Honorable Aaron Pena, Chair, House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence
FROM:	John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB628 by King, Phil (Relating to the courtroom access of certain witnesses during a criminal proceeding.), As Introduced

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would amend the Code of Criminal Procedure relating to the courtroom access of certain witnesses during a criminal proceeding.  The bill would allow a witness designated by the prosecuting attorney as the lead investigator in a case to be present in the courtroom during the proceeding.  Under current law, a defendant can invoke Rule 614 of the Texas Rules of Evidence to exclude a lead investigator for the prosecution from the courtroom if the lead investigator is not providing court testimony.  To the extent the bill modifies procedures in criminal proceedings, the fiscal implication to the State is not anticipated to be significant.  The bill would take effect September 1, 2007.

Local Government Impact

No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.

Source Agencies:

212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council

LBB Staff:

JOB, ES, ZS, TB