BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 1774

By: Bettencourt

Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

It has been suggested that maintaining the records of certain uncollectible court fees places an administrative burden on criminal courts and that counties statewide should have the ability to remove these fees from the fee record. S.B. 1774 seeks to address this issue by expanding the applicability of statutory provisions governing certain uncollectible fees and costs in criminal actions and proceedings. 

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. 1774 repeals Article 103.0081(c), Code of Criminal Procedure, which limits the applicability of statutory provisions relating to uncollectible fees and costs in criminal actions and proceedings based on a belief that the defendant is deceased or serving a certain life imprisonment sentence or that the fee has been unpaid for at least 15 years to a county with a population of more than 780,000 but less than 790,000.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2019.