HBA-ATS, LCA H.B. 3418 76(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 3418
By: Gallego
Judicial Affairs
6/21/1999
Enrolled



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Teleconferencing technology has provided an increasingly efficient and
cost-effective way for the judiciary to address transferred cases. To
promote teleconferencing, H.B. 3418 authorizes the payment of expenses
incurred by the use of teleconferencing technology from funds designated
for the transfer of a case.  This bill also provides that the use of
teleconferencing to hear oral argument is at the discretion of the chief
justice or presiding judge of the respective court. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 73.003(e), Government Code, to authorize a
court, at the discretion of its chief justice, and without the consent of
the parties, to hear oral argument through the use of teleconferencing
technology, and to provide for the payment by the state of expenses
incurred through such use from funds appropriated for the transfer of the
case. 

SECTION 2.  Amends Section 22.302(a), Government Code, to authorize the
supreme court, court of criminal appeals, or a court of appeals, at the
discretion of its chief justice or presiding judge, and without the consent
of the parties, to order the presentation of oral argument through the use
of teleconferencing technology. 

SECTION 3.  Effective date: September 1, 1999.

SECTION 4.  Emergency clause.