TO: | Honorable Pete Gallego, Chair, House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence |
FROM: | John S O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board |
IN RE: | HB976 by Carter (Relating to the issuance of a warrant or summons by a magistrate.), As Introduced |
The bill would amend the Code of Criminal Procedure to allow a person to appear before a magistrate via an electronic broadcast system defined as a two-way image and sound communication. The bill also would require a recording of the communication presented through an electronic broadcast system to be preserved for a specific number of days depending on the level of offense. A counsel for the defendant would be allowed to obtain a copy of the recording for a reasonable fee to cover the costs.
According to the Office of Court Administration, because the use of an electronic broadcast system would be optional, the recording and preserving of the recording would also be optional; therefore, the bill would not require any changes to present procedures and would not result in any significant fiscal impact to the State judicial system.
Source Agencies: | 212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council
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LBB Staff: | JOB, ESi, TP, TB
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