LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 81ST LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

May 8, 2009

TO:	Honorable John Whitmire, Chair, Senate Committee on Criminal Justice
FROM:	John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB107 by Phillips (Relating to allowing for certain criminal proceedings in the absence of certain defendants.), As Engrossed

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 certain felonies. The bill would allow a sentence to be rendered in the absence of a defendant confined in a penal institution under certain conditions. The bill would take effect September 1, 2009.

 

To the extent the bill would result in reduced costs relating to transporting defendants confined in penal institutions to courts for rendering of sentences, no significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

Local Government Impact

Savings to counties related to transportation and incarceration costs would vary and would depend on the number of defendants in a penal institution who choose to waive the right to be present at the rendering of the judgment and sentence. No significant fiscal impact is anticipated.

Source Agencies:

696 Department of Criminal Justice

LBB Staff:

JOB, ESi, SD, DB, TP, GG