| TO: | Honorable John Whitmire, Chair, Senate Committee on Criminal Justice |
| FROM: | Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board |
| IN RE: | HB3334 by Hughes (Relating to the recording of testimony before a grand jury.), As Engrossed |
The bill would amend the Code of Criminal Procedure relating to the recording of questions during grand jury testimony. The Office of Court Administration does not anticipate any significant fiscal impact to the court system resulting from the bill. The change in law would apply only to a grand jury whose term commences on or after the bill's effective date. The bill would take effect September 1, 2013.
Bexar County reported that as witnesses are not typically called to testify in grand jury proceedings, this bill would have minimal impact. Bexar County estimates annual costs of $11,028 to pay a court reporter to record grand jury testimony.
Harris County reported that it is currently meeting the provisions of the bill as written, and consequently the bill would have no fiscal impact on Harris County.
| Source Agencies: | 212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council
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| LBB Staff: | UP, ESi, AM, TB, KKR
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