Bill Text: TX HB184 | 2015-2016 | 84th Legislature | Enrolled


Bill Title: Relating to the allocation of costs and attorney's fees incurred by a Court of Inquiry.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 4-0)

Status: (Vetoed) 2015-06-20 - Vetoed by the Governor [HB184 Detail]

Download: Texas-2015-HB184-Enrolled.html
 
 
  H.B. No. 184
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to the allocation of costs and attorney's fees incurred by
  a Court of Inquiry.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Article 52.04, Code of Criminal Procedure, is
  amended by amending Subsection (c) and adding Subsection (d) to
  read as follows:
         (c)  Except as provided by Subsection (d), the [The] county
  in which the affidavit under Article 52.01 was filed shall be
  responsible for any attorney's fees awarded under Subsection (b).
         (d)  If the subject of the Court of Inquiry was an officer or
  employee of the state at the time of the alleged offense, the state
  shall be responsible for any attorney's fees awarded under
  Subsection (b).
         SECTION 2.  Article 52.09, Code of Criminal Procedure, is
  amended by amending Subsections (a) and (b) and adding Subsection
  (a-1) to read as follows:
         (a)  Except as provided by Subsection (a-1), all [All] costs
  incurred in conducting a Court of Inquiry, including compensation
  of an attorney pro tem, shall be borne by:
               (1)  the county in which the [said] Court of Inquiry is
  conducted, if the subject of the inquiry was not an officer or
  employee of the state at the time of the alleged offense; or
               (2)  the state, if the subject of the inquiry was an
  officer or employee of the state at the time of the alleged offense.
         (a-1)  If[; provided, however, that where] the Attorney
  General of Texas [has] submitted a request in writing to the judge
  for the holding of the [such] Court of Inquiry, [then and in that
  event] the costs described by Subsection (a) shall be borne by the
  state [State of Texas] and shall be taxed to the attorney general
  and paid in the same manner and from the same funds as other court
  costs.
         (b)  Assistance by a county or district attorney to a Court
  of Inquiry is a duty of the attorney's office, and the attorney may
  not receive a fee for the service. The state or the [A] county
  responsible for costs incurred under Subsection (a), as applicable,
  is not liable for attorney's fees claimed for assistance in a Court
  of Inquiry by any attorney other than an attorney pro tem appointed
  under Article 52.01(d) [of this code].
         SECTION 3.  The change in law made by this Act applies only
  to a Court of Inquiry commenced on or after the effective date of
  this Act. A Court of Inquiry commenced before the effective date of
  this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the Court of
  Inquiry was commenced, and the former law is continued in effect for
  that purpose.
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 184 was passed by the House on May 4,
  2015, by the following vote:  Yeas 139, Nays 0, 2 present, not
  voting.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 184 was passed by the Senate on May
  21, 2015, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate    
  APPROVED:  _____________________
                     Date          
   
            _____________________
                   Governor       
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