LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 80TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

February 1, 2007

TO:	Honorable Jeff Wentworth, Chair, Senate Committee on Jurisprudence
FROM:	John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	SB159 by Wentworth (Relating to a local public defender's office that represents indigent defendants in criminal cases.), As Introduced

No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would amend the Code of Criminal Procedure regarding creation and operations of a county public defender's office that represents indigent defendants in criminal cases. The bill would also authorize a commissioners court upon written approval of a judge of a county court, statutory county court, or district court trying cases under Title 3, Family Code (Juvenile Justice Code) to create or contract for a public defender's office. Under current statute, designation of a public defender applies to courts trying criminal cases.

In addition, the bill would authorize a judge to impose as a condition of community supervision, that a defendant represented by an attorney with the public defender's office to reimburse the county for the attorney's services.

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, MN, DB