HBA-SEP H.B. 2524 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2524
By: Hope
Criminal Jurisprudence
4/1/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

The 75th Legislature extended to courts the option, if agreed to by the
defendant, to hear pleas or waivers of rights in criminal cases by means of
closed circuit video teleconferencing.  Since then, there has been
confusion as to whether this law requires the court to keep a video tape of
the proceedings.  House Bill 2524 requires a transcript, rather than a
recording, of a plea or waiver of rights by closed circuit video
teleconferencing to be made and preserved until all appellate proceedings
have been disposed.   

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. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 2524 requires a transcript, rather than a recording, of a plea
or waiver of rights by closed circuit video teleconferencing to be made and
preserved until all appellate proceedings have been disposed.   

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.