BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 1425

By: Fletcher

Homeland Security & Public Safety

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties note that the current fee required to be paid by a defendant for a peace officer's services in executing or processing an arrest warrant, capias, or capias pro fine does not cover the actual costs of executing such warrants. This requires taxpayers to bear the costs for executing criminal warrants that should be paid from warrant fee proceeds. H.B. 1425 seeks to help offset the burden placed on taxpayers who must subsidize the cost of executing a warrant by placing the additional costs on the convicted defendant.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 1425 amends the Code of Criminal Procedure and the Government Code to increase from $50 to $75 the fee a defendant is required to pay on conviction of a felony or a misdemeanor for a peace officer's services in executing or processing an issued arrest warrant, capias, or capias pro fine. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2015.