Honorable Joan Huffman, Chair, Senate Committee on State Affairs
FROM:
John McGeady, Assistant Director Sarah Keyton, Assistant Director Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
SB325 by Huffman (relating to establishing a protective order registry and the duties of court personnel and other persons and entities in regard to the registry.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted
Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for SB325, Committee Report 1st House, Substituted: a negative impact of ($350,000) through the biennium ending August 31, 2021.
The Office of Court Administration is required to implement a provision of this Act only if the legislature appropriates money specifically for that purpose. If the legislature does not appropriate money specifically for that purpose, the Office of Court Administration may, but is not required to, implement a provision of this Act using other appropriations available for that purpose.
The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill.
Fiscal Year
Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds
2020
($350,000)
2021
$0
2022
$0
2023
$0
2024
$0
Fiscal Year
Probable Savings/(Cost) from General Revenue Fund 1
2020
($350,000)
2021
$0
2022
$0
2023
$0
2024
$0
Fiscal Analysis
The bill would amend the Government Code to require the Office of Court Administration (OCA), in consultation with the Department of Public Safety (DPS), to establish and maintain a central, computerized, and Internet-based registry for protective orders. The bill would require the registry to be capable of interfacing with local court case management systems, and to be searchable by county, name, and birth year of the person who is the subject of the order. The bill would require courts to enter protective order information into the registry within 24 hours of filing, issuance, or modification of a protective order. Certain information in the registry would be accessible by the public and certain information would be restricted to authorized users.
The bill would require the registry to be established by January 1, 2020, unless a delay of up to 90 days is authorized by the Texas Judicial Council. The bill would require OCA to establish and supervise a training program for magistrates, court staff, and peace officers by June 1, 2020.
The bill would take effect September 1, 2019.
Methodology
Based on historical costs of similar projects, OCA estimates that development of the registry would cost $350,000, while existing resources would be used to provide the required training. DPS has indicated it could implement the provisions of the bill using existing resources.
Technology
Costs include $350,000 in professional services to develop the registry and provide the training required in the bill.
Local Government Impact
According to the Texas Association of Counties, the bill would have a fiscal impact on certain counties that might require additional staff to carry out the provisions of the bill.
Source Agencies:
212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council, 302 Office of the Attorney General, 405 Department of Public Safety, 530 Family and Protective Services, Department of