Honorable Joan Huffman, Chair, Senate Committee on State Affairs
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
SB2189 by Huffman (Relating to the appointment of an attorney pro tem for certain criminal proceedings.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend the Code of Procedure and the Government Code to modify who may be appointed as an attorney pro tem when the attorney that would normally serve the county is absent or disqualified. The bill would also repeal provisions allowing any competent attorney to be appointed as an attorney pro tem and clarify that an attorney pro tem is not entitled to additional compensation, and would repeal a subsection allowing compensation under some circumstances. Based on the analysis of the Office of Court Administration (OCA) and the Office of the Attorney General, 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. Based on information provided by OCA, there may be some savings to counties who would not be required to compensate attorneys pro tem.
Source Agencies:
212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council, 302 Office of the Attorney General