BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 2053

By: West

Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties are concerned about the widespread effect of a recent court ruling on county and district court procedures relating to the collection and documentation of court costs. S.B. 2053 seeks to respond to the ruling by making certain changes to the allocation of funding from consolidated court costs.

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. 2053 amends the Local Government Code to remove the account or fund related to abused children's counseling and to comprehensive rehabilitation from the accounts and funds eligible for funding allocations from consolidated court costs and to increase the minimum percentage to be allocated from consolidated court costs to the fair defense account from 8.0143 percent to 17.8448 percent.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2017.