LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 80TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

Revision 1

April 25, 2007

TO:	Honorable Aaron Pena, Chair, House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence
FROM:	John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB1048 by Phillips (Relating to the rendering of a judgment and sentence in the absence of certain defendants charged with felonies.), As Introduced

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would amend the Code of Criminal Procedure relating to the rendering of a judgment and sentence in the absence of certain defendants charged with felonies.  The bill would allow a sentence to be rendered in the absence of a defendant imprisoned in a penal institution under certain conditions.  To the extent the bill would result in reduced costs relating to transporting defendants imprisoned in penal institutions to courts for rendering of sentences, no significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

 

The bill would take effect September 1, 2007. 

Local Government Impact

Harris County reports that implementing the provisions of the bill could result in some savings in incarceration and transportation costs. Dallas County assumed that most eligible prisoners would waive their rights, resulting in a potential savings to the county of approximately $500,000 in fiscal year 2008.

Source Agencies:

212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council

LBB Staff:

JOB, ES, ZS, TB, KJG