Bill Caption

Relating to the authority of the commissioners court of a county to create a law enforcement technology fund and to require certain defendants to pay court costs for deposit in the fund.

Fiscal Notes

No significant fiscal implication is anticipated on the State. The Office of Court Administration (OCA) estimates new annual revenue of $1,949,796 to counties statewide, assuming all counties adopt the new fee. The OCA's estimate is based on the number of applicable cases in justice courts (1,315,891) and county courts at law (298,922) to which the $2 fee applies. Assuming average collection rate (65% for justice courts and 40% for county courts at law), this amounts to $1,710,658 for justice courts and $239,138 for county courts at law, for a statewide total of $1,949,976.

Bill Analysis

Summary: HB 1552 would allow a county commissioners court to create a law enforcement technology fund. This bill would require a defendant convicted of a misdemeanor offense to pay $2 into this fund. This bill would restrict the fund to be used only to enhance law enforcement technologies.

Analysis: HB 1552 promotes and offends our limited government principle. Instead of using fees or taxes currently collected, this bill would impose a new fee. Creating this new fund and fee is clearly an expansion of government. However, making law enforcement more technologically advanced has the potential to improve public safety and efficiency. We remain neutral on HB 1552.