LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 83RD LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

May 9, 2013

TO:	Honorable Abel Herrero, Chair, House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence
FROM:	Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	SB780 by Hinojosa (Relating to the prioritization of certain available legal defense services when appointing representation for an indigent defendant in a criminal case.), As Engrossed

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would amend the Code of Criminal Procedure to require a court or designee to give priority in appointing the public defender office in some cases if such an office exists in the county.

The Office of Court Administration does not anticipate a significant fiscal impact to the state.

Local Government Impact

The bill may lead to increased appointment of a local public defender's office instead of private attorneys to represent indigent defendants. To the extent that the public defender's costs are fixed, a county may save on costs that would otherwise be spent paying a private attorney.  However, these savings are not anticipated to be significant.

Source Agencies:

212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council

LBB Staff:

UP, ESi, KKR