BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 1245

By: Turner, Sylvester

Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals administers grants from the judicial and court personnel training fund for the purposes of providing legal education courses, programs, and technical assistance projects to certain judges, attorneys, and personnel. Currently, prosecuting attorneys and their personnel, justices of the peace and their court personnel, and criminal defense attorneys who regularly represent indigent defendants in criminal matters are authorized to participate in trainings funded by the judicial and court personnel training fund. However, interested parties observe that the personnel of such criminal defense attorneys are not permitted to participate in the trainings under current law. H.B. 1245 seeks to provide the same training opportunities to the personnel of certain criminal defense attorneys that are afforded to the personnel of prosecuting attorneys and justices of the peace.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 1245 amends the Government Code to include the provision of continuing legal education, technical assistance, and other support programs for the personnel of criminal defense attorneys who regularly represent indigent defendants in criminal matters among the purposes for which the legislature is required to appropriate funds from the judicial and court personnel training fund to the court of criminal appeals.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2013.