| TO: | Honorable Jeff Wentworth, Chair, Senate Committee on Jurisprudence |
| FROM: | John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board |
| IN RE: | SB966 by Ellis (Relating to a qualified privilege of a journalist not to testify.), As Introduced |
The bill would amend the Civil Practice and Remedies Code and the Code of Criminal Procedure relating to a qualified privilege of a journalist not to testify. The bill would provide that a journalist may not be forced to produce, testify or disclose certain confidential information except in a criminal proceeding; further, the source of any news or information that is obtained in violation of the proposed amendment would not be admissible in any action proceeding or hearing before a judicial, administrative or legislative body. To the extent the bill would amend court procedures regarding privileges of journalists, no significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would take effect September 1, 2007.
| Source Agencies: | 212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council, 302 Office of the Attorney General
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| LBB Staff: | JOB, MN, ZS, TB
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