Bill: HB 2969, 84(R) - 2015

Bill Caption

Relating to the authority of the Texas Indigent Defense Commission to provide certain funding for indigent defense services.

Fiscal Notes

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

Based on the analysis of the Office of Court Administration, duties and responsibilities associated with implementing the provisions of the bill could be accomplished by utilizing existing resources.

Bill Analysis

The bill would amend the Government Code to permit the Texas Indigent Defense Commission to award grants to law schools and regional public defender programs created by more than one county that provides at least 50 percent of the operating costs of the program. The bill would also require the Commission to collect each county's share of the program's costs and distribute them to the regional public defender program. In addition, the bill would require each participating county and the regional public defender program to assume all costs associated with the defense of cases assigned to the office that remain pending following termination of the agreement or the county's participation in the agreement and provides that the commission would select a means by which this payment can be made to the office from a list of options provided in the bill.

Note: SB 1057 is a very similar bill.

Vote Recommendation Notes

This bill offers more flexibility in regard to the implementation of an already existent program providing defense for those without adequate financial resources. The bill gives non-profits and cooperatives of counties the option to render public defender services, which would especially benefit our smaller, more rural counties. We support HB 2969. 

Source URL (retrieved on 04/23/2024 01:04 AM): http://reports.texasaction.com/bill/84r/hb2969?print_view=true