LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 85TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

April 20, 2017

TO:	Honorable John Whitmire, Chair, Senate Committee on Criminal Justice
FROM:	Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB678 by Wu (Relating to the procedure for the entering of a plea or a stipulation of evidence by a child subject to a determinate sentence.), As Engrossed

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would permit juvenile court referees and associate judges to hold hearings where the child and state have a plea agreement for the disposition of a determinate sentence case. Currently only a juvenile court judge may hear such cases.  The Office of Court Administration anticipates that the provisions of the bill could be accomplished using 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, 644 Juvenile Justice Department

LBB Staff:

UP, KJo, FR, MW, PBO, BM