Honorable Joe Straus, Speaker of the House, House of Representatives
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 Passed 2nd House
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 an official proceeding, as defined, under certain conditions. To the extent the bill would amend procedures regarding privileges of journalists, the amendments are not anticipated to increase judicial workloads or result in a fiscal implication to the State. The bill would take immediate effect if the bill receives two-thirds the vote of all members. Otherwise, the bill would take effect September 1, 2009.
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