LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
 
FISCAL NOTE, 87TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
 
March 29, 2021

TO:
Honorable Nicole Collier, Chair, House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence
 
FROM:
Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
 
IN RE:
HB2446 by Canales (Relating to the reimbursement of expenses to certain counsel appointed to represent a defendant in a criminal proceeding.), As Introduced

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would amend the Code of Criminal Procedure to require an attorney appointed to represent a defendant to be paid for travel or any costs to remotely conduct a confidential interview with the attorney's client, if the defendant is being held in a correctional facility more than 50 miles from the court in which the case is pending.

Based on information provided by the Office of Court Administration, no significant fiscal impact to the state court system is anticipated as a result from implementing the provisions of the bill.

Local Government Impact

According to Taylor County, the requirement to reimburse appointed counsel for travel costs would have no significant fiscal impact on the county. Taylor County anticipates that the bill's provisions related to reimbursement for providing counsel on a remote basis could affect the appointed counsel rate and have a fiscal impact on the county.


Source Agencies:
212 Office of Court Admin
LBB Staff:
JMc, DKN, MW, BH, AF