LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 80TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

April 23, 2007

TO:	Honorable Jeff Wentworth, Chair, Senate Committee on Jurisprudence
FROM:	John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	SB1554 by Hinojosa (Relating to the authority of a judge of a court of record to determine the system of recordkeeping used to record the court's proceedings.), As Introduced

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would amend the Government Code to authorize a judge of a court of record to determine the system of recordkeeping the court will use to create a record of the court's proceedings. The supreme court of Texas would be required to approve the system prior to the court of record implementing it. If an electronic system is used and meets the requirements in the bill, a court of record would not have to appoint an official court reporter.

The bill would take effect immediately if it were to receive the required two-thirds vote in each house; otherwise, it 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, MN, DB