Honorable Abel Herrero, Chair, House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB3724 by Herrero (relating to the consideration of certain scientific evidence constituting the basis for an application for a writ of habeas corpus.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend the Code of Criminal Procedure regarding a court's consideration of scientific evidence in granting relief on an application for a writ of habeas corpus. The bill would add additional factors that a court must consider. These factors include if there has been a change in the field of scientific knowledge, a testifying expert's scientific knowledge, or a scientific method on which the relevant scientific evidence was based since the applicable trial date or the date on which the original application or previously considered application was filed. Based on the analysis of the Office of Court Administration, duties and responsibilities associated with implementing the provisions of the bill could be accomplished by utilizing existing resources.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
Source Agencies:
212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council