87R1030 TSS-D
By: Miles S.B. No. 417
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to reports to the Office of Court Administration of the
Texas Judicial System on certain cases filed in justice and
municipal courts.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. The heading to Subchapter E, Chapter 72,
Government Code, is amended to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER E. COURT PERFORMANCE AND OTHER REPORTS [STANDARDS]
SECTION 2. Subchapter E, Chapter 72, Government Code, is
amended by adding Section 72.0831 to read as follows:
Sec. 72.0831. JUSTICE AND MUNICIPAL COURTS. (a) Each
justice and municipal court shall annually report to the office for
each criminal case filed with the court during the reporting year:
(1) the offense charged;
(2) the final disposition of the case; and
(3) the defendant's race or ethnicity, as reported in
the citation, affidavit establishing probable cause, or offense
report filed with the case.
(b) Each justice court shall annually report to the office
for each residential eviction suit filed with the court during the
reporting year:
(1) the final disposition of the case; and
(2) the defendant's race or ethnicity, as reported to
the court by the defendant or, if the defendant does not report the
defendant's race or ethnicity, the fact that the defendant prefers
not to report the defendant's race or ethnicity.
(c) The office shall adopt rules prescribing the form and
manner of submission of the reports required by this section and the
dates on which those reports are due each year.
(d) A report made under this section is confidential and not
subject to disclosure under Chapter 552.
SECTION 3. As soon as practicable after the effective date
of this Act, the Office of Court Administration of the Texas
Judicial System shall adopt rules implementing Section 72.0831,
Government Code, as added by this Act.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2021.