Bill

SB 1517

84(R) - 2015
Senate Criminal Justice
Read Bill & Check Bill Status
Senate Criminal Justice
Criminal Procedure

Vote Recommendation

Yes
  • Neutral
  • Neutral
  • Neutral
  • Positive
  • Neutral

Author(s)

Kel Seliger

Co-Author(s)

Royce West

Bill Caption

Relating to the appointment of counsel to represent indigent defendants in criminal cases.

Fiscal Notes

No significant fiscal implication to the State or units of local government is anticipated.

Bill Analysis

SB 1517 would reorganize language within the chapter entitled “General Provisions” within the Code of Criminal Procedure. This bill would indicate procedures for appointing an indigent defendant counsel if their arrest warrant was issued in a county and their arrest was in a differing county. Precedence would be given to appointed counsel in the county that the arrest warrant was issued, but if the defendant has not been transferred to the county where the arrest warrant was issued by the 11th day after the date of the arrest a court may appoint counsel in the county where the indigent defendant was arrested. Under this legislation a court that appoints counsel from the arresting county may seek reimbursement from the county that issued the warrant.


This bill would also order the magistrate to inform a defendant who is in court in a county other than the county that issued the arrest warrant the procedures for requesting counsel and reasonable assistance in completing the associated necessary forms.

Vote Recommendation Notes

SB 1517 is mostly a procedural bill to guide the process of appointing indigent defense in situations where a person is arrested in a county other than that which issued the arrest warrant. This is under the purview of limited government because it supports the constitutional right to a “speedy trial.” We support the passage of this bill.

Organizations Supporting

Texas Conference of Urban Counties