Honorable John Whitmire, Chair, Senate Committee on Criminal Justice
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
SB1253 by West (Relating to the electronic recording and admissibility of certain custodial interrogations.), As Introduced
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend the Code of Criminal Procedure to require all law enforcement agencies of the state or of a municipality, county, or other political subdivision of the state to make electronically recorded custodial interrogations of persons suspected of committing certain felony offenses. The bill would also allow the admissibility in court of an oral, sign language, or written statement of an accused person if good cause is shown for the lack of the recording. It is assumed the costs to implement the provisions of the bill could be absorbed within existing resources.
The bill would take effect September 1, 2017.
Local Government Impact
According to OCA, the Timothy Cole Exoneration Review Commission surveyed law enforcement agencies during the interim and found that most already electronically record interrogations. The survey also found that the average cost of purchasing electronic digital recording equipment was less than $5,000. No significant fiscal impact is anticipated.
Source Agencies:
212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council, 405 Department of Public Safety