83(R) SB 1908 - House Committee Report version

LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 83RD LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION


May 15, 2013

TO:	Honorable Tryon D. Lewis, Chair, House Committee on Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence

FROM:	Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board

IN RE:	SB1908 by West (Relating to a study conducted by the Office of Court Administration of the Texas Judicial System and the repeal of certain court fees and costs.), Committee Report 2nd House, Substituted

Because the fiscal impact is contingent upon a forthcoming study to be conducted by the Office of Court Administration, the fiscal implications of the bill cannot be determined at this time.

The bill would amend the Government Code to require that before September 1, 2014, the Office of Court Administration (OCA) conduct a study identifying each statutorily imposed fee or cost for filing a paper document with a court. The bill specifies that OCA shall determine whether each fee or cost is necessary and provide a list to the governor, lieutenant governor and speaker of the house. The bill would require the Texas Legislative Council to prepare for the 84th Legislature, proposed statutory revisions reflecting any changes to statute as a result of the bill and the study.

Both the Texas Legislative Council and the Office of Court Administration indicated that the agencies would be able to implement the provisions of the bill within existing resources. The Comptroller of Public Accounts reports that the revenue impact of the bill to both the state and units of local government cannot be estimated due to the repeal of certain court costs and fees being unknown at this time.

Local Government Impact

Because the impact of the bill depends on a forthcoming Office of Court Administration study, the fiscal implications of the bill cannot be determined at this time.