Honorable Jim Jackson, Chair, House Committee on Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence
FROM:
John S O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB417 by Anchia (relating to claims for compensation for wrongful imprisonment.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would require the Department of Criminal Justice to provide wrongfully imprisoned persons with guidance in obtaining compensation and information regarding advocacy groups. The bill would also limit fee agreements between attorneys and wrongfully imprisoned persons and would require the Comptroller of Public Accounts to establish the maximum hourly rate for these fee agreements by January 1, 2012. The bill would increase a claimant's application for remedy for a claim denied by the Comptroller of Public Accounts to 30 days. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice and the Comptroller of Public Accounts anticipate no significant fiscal impact from this bill.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.