LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 80TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

May 16, 2007

TO:	Honorable John Whitmire, Chair, Senate Committee on Criminal Justice
FROM:	John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB1267 by Pena (Relating to the compensation of counsel appointed to defend an indigent defendant in a criminal proceeding.), As Engrossed

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would amend the Code of Criminal Procedure relating to the compensation of counsel appointed to defend an indigent defendant in a criminal proceeding.  The bill would allow an attorney to appeal a failure to act on the attorney’s request for payment 60 days after the request for payment has been submitted.  To the extent the bill would amend procedures for compensation of indigent defense counsel, 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.  To the extent the bill would amend procedures for compensation of indigent defense counsel, the fiscal implication to units of local government is expected to be minimal.

Source Agencies:

212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council

LBB Staff:

JOB, ES, ZS, TB, KJG