LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 83RD LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

March 9, 2013

TO:	Honorable Craig Estes, Chair, Senate Committee On Agriculture, Rural Affairs & Homeland Security
FROM:	Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	SB361 by Watson (Relating to the duties of a magistrate to inform an arrested person of consequences of a plea of guilty or nolo contendere.), As Introduced

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would require a magistrate to inform an arrestee that if the person is not a citizens of the United States of America, a plea of guilty or nolo contendere may affect the person’s immigration or residency status and may result in deportation, exclusion from admission to this country, or denial of naturalization.

According to the Office of Court Administration, the bill would reduce  post-conviction proceedings and retrials, but could also increase the number of noncitizens pleading not guilty and asking for a jury. Fiscal impact would vary depending on the number of each of these these cases but is not anticipated to be significant.

Local Government Impact

No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.

Source Agencies:

212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council

LBB Staff:

UP, SZ, SD, KKR