Bill

SB 891

86(R) - 2019
Senate State Affairs
House Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence
Senate State Affairs
House Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence
Courts

Vote Recommendation

Neutral
  • Neutral
  • Neutral
  • Neutral
  • Neutral
  • Neutral

Author(s)

Joan Huffman

Co-Author(s)

Donna Campbell
Brandon Creighton
Pete Flores
Charles Perry
Larry Taylor
Judith Zaffirini

Sponsor(s)

Justin Holland
Jeff Leach

Co-Sponsor(s)

Kyle Biedermann

Bill Caption

Relating to the operation and administration of and practice in and grants provided by courts in the judicial branch of state government; imposing a fee; creating a criminal offense.

Fiscal Notes

Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for SB891, Committee Report 2nd House, Substituted: a negative impact of ($4,124,942) through the biennium ending August 31, 2021.

The Office of Court Administration (OCA) is required to implement a provision of this Act only if the legislature appropriates money specifically for that purpose. If the legislature does not appropriate money specifically for that purpose, the OCA may, but is not required to, implement a provision of this Act using other appropriations available for that purpose.

The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill. 

Bill Analysis

SB 891 is an omnibus bill that would amend numerous provisions of the Government Code relating to the administration, creation, and priorities of certain district and county courts throughout the state. It would also change certain posting requirements to include websites rather than just newspapers of general circulation in the county in which a proceeding is pending.

Additionally, this bill would add repeatedly failing to appear for scheduled court reporting services as a reason for a court reporter to be disciplined, and creates a Class A misdemeanor offense for providing unlicensed court reporting services; require the Office of Court Administration (OCA) to develop and maintain a public information website that would allow a person to view public citations or other legal notices; transfer notification requirements for reporting of specialty courts from the Criminal Justice Division to the OCA; and authorize both the Permanent Judicial Commission for Children, Youth and Families, and the Judicial Commission on Mental Health to make grants from available funds. In regards to the grant program, it would expand the eligibility for grants to include initiatives designed to prevent or minimize the involvement of children in the juvenile justice system, or promote rehabilitation of children in the juvenile justice system. The mental health commission would be able to provide grants from available funds to improve the administration of justice for individuals with mental health needs or an intellectual or developmental disability.

Vote Recommendation Notes

Texas Action remains neutral on SB 891 because it is an administrative bill which does not appear to affect our liberty principles.