Honorable Pete Gallego, Chair, House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence
FROM:
John S O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB2689 by Deshotel (Relating to certain inmates entering certain pleas by mail or certain secure electronic transmissions.), 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 a written plea of guilty or nolo contendere for a Class A or B misdemeanor via United States mail or secure electronic or facsimile transmission from an incarcerated inmate in a facility operated by or under contract with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ). A court would be required to verify that 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. A plea described by the provisions of the bill would be required to be accompanied by a waiver of jury trial.
The bill would take effect September 1, 2011.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.