BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 1516

By: Walle

Criminal Jurisprudence

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

When a person is charged with an offense and, as a result, is responsible for court fees, the person is issued a bill of cost. However, the bill of cost is not currently required to include an itemized breakdown of the incurred charges. Interested parties contend that this lack of information leads to confusion, as offenders are unable to readily identify costs and overcharges. While an itemized bill of cost is provided on request of legal counsel, these parties assert that it should be the standard of the courts to inform offenders of the elements of associated court costs. H.B. 1516 seeks to help Texans understand and identify court costs without the need for a formal request of a legal representative.

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. 1516 amends the Code of Criminal Procedure to remove as an alternative to satisfying the conditions under which costs provided to a defendant are considered payable the requirement that an appropriately signed written bill containing the items of cost be ready to be produced. The bill specifies that a cost is not payable until such a written bill is provided to the person charged with the cost. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2015.