Honorable Jim McReynolds, Chair, House Committee on Corrections
FROM:
John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB3372 by Deshotel (Relating to certain inmates entering certain pleas by mail or certain secure electronic transmissions. ), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend the Code of Criminal Procedure to require that a court accept certain written misdemeanor pleas via United States mail or secure electronic or facsimile transmission. The bill would apply to offenders incarcerated in a facility operated by or under contract with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. The bill requires the court to verify the person submitting the plea is the same person named in the information or a person with legal authority to enter a plea on behalf of the person named in the information. The bill also requires a plea described by the bill to be accompanied by a waiver of jury trial. The bill would take effect September 1, 2009.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
Source Agencies:
212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council, 696 Department of Criminal Justice