Honorable Pete Gallego, Chair, House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence
FROM:
John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB1480 by Madden (Relating to the use of video teleconferencing systems in certain criminal proceedings. ), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend the Code of Criminal Procedure relating to the use of video teleconferencing systems in certain criminal proceedings. The bill would permit a peace officer to provide testimony to a grand jury and allow certain defendants to waive the right of trial by jury from a remote site by means of a teleconferencing system. To the extent the bill would expand the means by which persons may provide testimony to grand juries or waive the right of trial by jury, no significant increase in judicial workloads or fiscal implication to the State is anticipated. The bill would take effect September 1, 2009.
Local Government Impact
The bill would permit a peace officer to provide testimony to a grand jury and allow certain defendants to waive the right of trial by jury from a remote site by means of a teleconferencing system. The bill does not mandate that a teleconferencing system be established; therefore, no significant fiscal implication to local governmental entities is anticipated.
Source Agencies:
212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council, 405 Department of Public Safety, 696 Department of Criminal Justice