Bill: SB 462, 83(R) - 2013

Bill Caption

Relating to specialty court programs in this state.

Fiscal Notes

Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for SB462, Committee Report 2nd House, Substituted: a negative impact of ($4,852,000) through the biennium ending August 31, 2015. However, an indeterminate amount of revenue will be deposited into the General Revenue Fund, through the collection of a new fee imposed by the bill, that would offset some of the negative impact to General Revenue Related Funds.

Bill Analysis

Summary: Concerns have been raised that performance measures were not established to determine the success and cost-effectiveness of specialty courts in Texas and that the state laws governing the various types of specialty courts are not codified in a common place. SB 462 would consolidate statutes relating to specialty courts, would implement oversight, and would change the composition of the Specialty Courts Advisory Council.

Analysis: SB 462 attempts to improve efficiency and oversight in the specialty courts. However, according to the Legislative Budget Board, this bill comes with a negative fiscal impact of $4.8 million through the biennium. This bill would create new fees such as a program fee for drug courts not to exceed $1,000, a program fee for the first offender prostitution prevention program not to exceed $1,000, and a program fee for veterans court programs not to exceed $1,000. While we agree with the intent of this bill and like many of its provisions, it is an expansion of the cost of government. We remain neutral on SB 462.

Source URL (retrieved on 04/19/2024 06:04 PM): http://reports.texasaction.com/bill/83r/sb462?print_view=true