HBA-NRS H.B. 3697 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 3697 By: Merritt Judicial Affairs 5/3/2001 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Current law requires that a court reporter be provided to preserve a record in cases tried before a municipal court of record. A local governing body may approve the use of an electronic recording device to preserve a record instead of providing a court reporter. The City of Longview is specifically prohibited from using an electronic recording device, thus requiring the city to provide a court reporter. House Bill 3697 allows the City of Longview to approve the use of an electronic recording device to preserve a record in cases tried before a municipal court of record. 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 3697 amends the Government Code by deleting the provision that prohibits the City of Longview from authorizing the proceedings of a case tried before a municipal court of record to be recorded by a good quality electronic device. EFFECTIVE DATE On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect September 1, 2001.