BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 2511

By: Thompson, Senfronia

Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Certain cities, such as the City of Houston, are currently required to provide a court reporter to record municipal court proceedings. There is concern that this requirement negatively impacts the citizens of these cities who may have their cases rescheduled for trial multiple times because there are not enough court reporters to transcribe the court proceedings. It has been suggested that allowing such cities the option of electronically recording a proceeding would permit more cases to be tried efficiently while avoiding the cost of hiring contract court reporters to supplement staff resources. H.B. 2511 seeks to address this issue by providing that municipal court proceedings in the City of Houston may be recorded using an electronic device.

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. 2511 repeals Section 30.00676(b), Government Code, which excepts the City of Houston from the authorization for a municipality's governing body to provide for electronic recording of proceedings in a municipal court of record as an alternative to providing a court reporter.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2013.