Honorable John Whitmire, Chair, Senate Committee On Criminal Justice
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
SB107 by West (Relating to the disclosure by a court of criminal history record information that is the subject of an order of nondisclosure.), As Introduced
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend the Government Code to prohibit a court from disclosing to the public any information contained in the court record that is the subject of a final nondisclosure order. After issuing a nondisclosure order, the court may only disclose information contained in the court records to the criminal justice or regulatory agencies listed in Texas Government Code section 411.081(i). It is assumed any costs associated with implementing the provisions of the bill can be absorbed within current appropriations. The bill would take effect on September 1, 2013.
Local Government Impact
The bill would require counties to prosecute any criminal violations for release of information by courts subject to a nondisclosure order. Also, the bill may require court clerks to perform additional administrative tasks, such as providing copies of the sealed records. However, both the Department of Public Safety and the Office of Court Administration anticipate no significant fiscal implication to local courts.
Source Agencies:
212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council, 405 Department of Public Safety