Honorable Jeff Wentworth, Chair, Senate Committee on Jurisprudence
FROM:
John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB670 by Martinez Fischer (Relating to a qualified privilege of a journalist not to testify.), As Engrossed
No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
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, as defined, may not be forced to divulge certain information obtained by the journalist except in a court proceeding, under certain conditions. To the extent the bill would amend court procedures regarding privileges of journalists, the amendments are not anticipated to increase judicial workloads or result in a fiscal implication to the State.
Local Government Impact
The provisions of the bill are not expected to cause any increase in judicial workload; therefore, no fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
Source Agencies:
212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council, 302 Office of the Attorney General