Honorable John T. Smithee, Chair, House Committee on Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
SB287 by West (Relating to the elimination of certain court fees and costs.), As Engrossed
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would repeal four court fees and costs: 1) a $7 court cost that can be assessed on each person convicted of a Class C misdemeanor in Harris County; 2) a $10 fee to be assessed on certain civil suits involving railroad companies; 3) a $2 fee for the hearing of an application to secure a (confederate soldier's) pension; and 4) a $5 fee for each petition for review filed after an initial petition for review of an tax appraisal board order relating to certain regulated property.
The Comptroller of Public Accounts reports that because the four fees and court costs are rarely assessed, their repeal would have no significant fiscal impact on state and local revenues.
The bill would take immediate effect if the bill receives the votes of two-thirds of the members of each house. Otherwise, the bill would take effect September 1, 2015.
Local Government Impact
According to Tarrant County Clerk's office, no fiscal implication is anticipated.
Harris County reported that provisions of the bill would not have a fiscal impact.
Source Agencies:
212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council, 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts