BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 418

By: Whitmire

Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties point out that a true and correct copy of a backup audio media recording can be useful for purposes of a complaint review process in determining the environment in a court proceeding that is not attainable through transcripts of conversations. S.B. 418 seeks to require a court reporter to furnish such an available recording to the State Commission on Judicial Conduct on request to aid the commission in carrying out its duties.

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

S.B. 418 amends the Government Code to require the official court reporter, if the court reporter has a backup audio media recording of a court proceeding and on request of the State Commission on Judicial Conduct, to produce to the commission at no cost to the commission a true and correct copy of the backup audio media recording.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 15, 2015.