HBA-AMW H.B. 355 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 355 By: Ellis, Dan Criminal Jurisprudence 4/12/2001 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Although a court is authorized to order a defendant to make restitution to a victim of an offense, current law does not authorize a court to order a defendant to pay interest on the restitution. Requiring a defendant to pay interest on restitution may compensate victims in a more equitable manner and provide a financial incentive for the defendant to pay the restitution off early. House Bill 355 authorizes a sentencing court to order a defendant required to make restitution to pay interest on the restitution. 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 355 amends the Code of Criminal Procedure to authorize a sentencing court to order a defendant to pay interest on restitution. The bill provides that the interest accrues at the same rate as the accrual of postjudgment interest in civil cases, beginning on the date the order of restitution is issued and ending on the date the full amount of restitution is paid. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2001.