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 closed circuit video teleconferencing.), As Introduced
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 misdemeanor pleas via teleconferencing. The bill would apply to offenders incarcerated in a facility operated by or under contract with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, following a felony conviction that is also charged with having committed the misdemeanor offense. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice and the Office of Court Administration have determined that the cost of implementing the provisions of this bill would not be significant.
Local Government Impact
Local governments that do not currently have the technology available to accept pleas as required by the bill could incur some costs; however, according to the County and District Clerk Association, those costs are not anticipated to be significant.
Source Agencies:
212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council, 696 Department of Criminal Justice