LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 83RD LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

April 6, 2013

TO:	Honorable Abel Herrero, Chair, House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence
FROM:	Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB319 by Dutton (Relating to the extent of a defendant's criminal responsibility for the conduct of a coconspirator in certain felony cases.), As Introduced

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would amend the Code of Criminal Procedure to prohibit a sentence of death for a defendant found guilty of a capital felony if found guilty through the criminal responsibility of another.
 
Both the Texas Department of Criminal Justice and the Office of Court Administration indicate they anticipate no significant fiscal impact as a result of complying with the provisions of the bill.

Local Government Impact

The costs of adjudicating two or more capital trials for two or more defendants rather than only one trial may have a fiscal implication for any particular jurisdiction. Because this estimate assumes such circumstances would be infrequent, no significant implication to units of local government statewide is anticipated.

Source Agencies:

212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council, 696 Department of Criminal Justice

LBB Staff:

UP, ESi, GG, JGA