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.