Bill
HB 1245
83(R) - 2013
Civil Justice
Vote Recommendation
Yes
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Neutral
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Neutral
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Neutral
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Neutral
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Positive
Author(s)
Sylvester Turner
Bill Caption
Relating to the allocation of money in the judicial and court personnel training fund.
Fiscal Notes
Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB1245, As
Introduced: an impact of $0 through the biennium ending August 31, 2015.
The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of
funds to implement the provisions of the bill.
The bill would amend the Government Code to provide that the Court of Criminal Appeals expand
continuing legal education and other support programs for criminal defense attorneys who
represent indigent defendants to include personnel working for criminal defense attorneys
representing the indigent. Currently, the Court of Criminal Appeals is appropriated an amount not
to exceed $1,105,000 per year from the General Revenue-Dedicated Judicial and Court Personnel
Training Account No. 540 to provide continuing legal education for criminal defense attorneys
who regularly represent indigent defendants in criminal matters. The bill would take effect
September 1, 2013.
Based on information provided by the Court of Criminal Appeals and the Office of Court
Administration, this estimate assumes that based on the number of criminal defense lawyers
representing indigent defendants trained each year, approximately 300 criminal defense attorney
personnel per year would be eligible to receive training under provisions of the bill. This estimate
assumes each training participant would receive 12 hours of training at an average cost of $32 per
hour.
Bill Analysis
Summary: Under current law, prosecuting attorneys and their personnel, justices of the peace and their personnel, and criminal defense attorneys who represent indigent defendants can participate in trainings funded by the judicial and court personnel training fund. HB 1245 authorizes a criminal defense attorney's personnel to participate in these trainings.
Analysis: Indigent defendants are unable to afford proper legal representation and the law requires that legal representation be provided for them. HB 1245 would help ensure that an indigent defendant's representation is properly trained to provide adequate legal defense. TPPA recommends voting YES on HB 1245.