Honorable Jeff Leach, Chair, House Committee on Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence
FROM:
John McGeady, Assistant Director Sarah Keyton, Assistant Director Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB250 by Farrar (Relating to attorney's fees associated with certain court proceedings for cruelly treated animals; authorizing fees and costs.), As Introduced
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend the Health and Safety Code to allow a court that has found an owner to have treated an animal cruelly to pay the county's or municipality's reasonable attorney's fees. It limits this authority to courts in a county or municipality with a population of 700,000 or more. The bill would amend the Government Code by adding reasonable attorney's fees to the list of fees and costs found to be ordered by the court of a finding of animal cruelty. Based on the analysis of the Office of Court Administration, duties and responsibilities associated with implementing 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