LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 83RD LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

May 10, 2013

TO:	Honorable John Whitmire, Chair, Senate Committee on Criminal Justice
FROM:	Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	SB969 by West (Relating to the electronic recording of certain statements made by an accused as a result of custodial interrogation.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would require law enforcement officers to video record all suspects making a written statement.  Any oral statements or sign language statements would also have to be video recorded; anyone who can be heard or seen on the video recording must be identified.  The bill would also add the time for filing a petition for a writ of habeas corpus to the amount of time the recorded statement must be preserved.

The Department of Public Safety reported no significant fiscal impact associated with the bill.

Local Government Impact

Local law enforcement that does not currently comply with these provisions would see costs; however, any costs are not anticipated to be significant.

The Dallas County Sheriff's Department reported no significant fiscal impact associated with the bill.

The Austin Police Department reported that it currently video records in these circumstances; no fiscal impact is anticipated.

Source Agencies:

405 Department of Public Safety

LBB Staff:

UP, ESi, KKR