LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
 
FISCAL NOTE, 81ST LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
 
April 9, 2009

TO:
Honorable Yvonne Davis, Chair, House Committee on Urban Affairs
 
FROM:
John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
 
IN RE:
HB1421 by Corte (Relating to the use of certain court costs in a criminal case for municipal programs enhancing public safety and security.), As Introduced

No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would amend the Code of Criminal Procedure to authorize additional uses of certain funds collected in a municipal court case in a municipality with a population less than 850,000.

Currently the applicable court costs collected must be used for a school crossing guard program, and any money remaining after costs for the program may be deposited into an interest-bearing account or expended for programs to enhance child safety, health, or nutrition, including child abuse prevention and intervention and drug and alcohol abuse prevention. Under provisions of the bill, additional funds from those court costs could also be used for programs designed to enhance public safety and security.


Local Government Impact

If an affected municipality already operates programs designed to enhance public safety and security and would have access to additional money from the court costs collected to use for the safety programs, the municipality would experience a savings by having an additional revenue source to pay for part or all program expenses. Otherwise, because there would be no new revenues generated, rather expanded uses for existing revenues, there would be no fiscal impact.


Source Agencies:
212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council
LBB Staff:
JOB, DB, JJO, TP