BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center H.B. 1950 By: Capriglione (Hancock) Economic Development 5/2/2025 Engrossed AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT Municipal courts play a critical role in ensuring local justice and public safety. To support their operations, Texas law currently allows municipalities to collect fees dedicated to court security and technology enhancements. However, in certain municipalities, managing these funds separately can create administrative inefficiencies and limit the flexibility to address security and technology priorities effectively. H.B. 1950 seeks to allow certain municipalities to consolidate their Municipal Court Security Fund and Municipal Court Technology Fund into a single fund. This change would streamline fund administration and preserve the designated purposes of security and technology expenditures. Providing flexibility in managing these resources will allow municipal court operations to be more effective while still maintaining accountability for how funds are allocated. H.B. 1950 amends current law relating to the consolidated municipal court security and technology fund in certain municipalities. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Article 102.017, Code of Criminal Procedure, by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (g), as follows: (a) Creates an exception under Subsection (g). (g) Provides that Article 102.017 (Courthouse Security Fund; Municipal Court Building Security Fund; Justice Court Building Security Fund) does not apply to a municipality with a population of less than 100,000. SECTION 2. Amends Article 102.0172, Code of Criminal Procedure, by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (d), as follows: (a) Creates an exception under Subsection (d). (d) Provides that Article 102.0172 (Municipal Court Technology Fund) does not apply to a municipality with a population of less than 100,000. SECTION 3. Amends Subchapter A, Chapter 102, Code of Criminal Procedure, by adding Article 102.0175, as follows: Art. 102.0175. CONSOLIDATED MUNICIPAL COURT BUILDING SECURITY AND TECHNOLOGY FUND. (a) Provides that this section applies only to a municipality with a population of less than 100,000. (b) Provides that the consolidated municipal court building security and technology fund is a fund in the municipal court treasury. Provides that the fund consists of money allocated to the fund under Section 134.103 (Local Consolidated Fee on Conviction of Nonjailable Misdemeanor), Local Government Code. (c) Provides that money deposited in a consolidated municipal court building security and technology fund is authorized to be used only for the purpose authorized under Article 102.017(b) (relating to authorized uses for money deposited in a courthouse security fund) or (c) (relating to defining "security personnel, services, and items") for use of a municipal court technology fund or Article 102.0172(b) (relating to authorized uses for money in the municipal court technology fund) for use of a municipal court technology fund. (d) Requires that the consolidated municipal court building security and technology fund be administered by or under the direction of the governing body of the municipality. SECTION 4. Amends Section 134.103(b), Local Government Code, as follows: (b) Requires the treasurer to allocate the court costs received under this section to the following accounts and funds so that each receives to the extent practicable, utilizing historical data as applicable, the same amount of money the account or fund would have received if the court costs for the accounts and funds had been collected and reported separately, except that the account or fund is prohibited from receiving less than the following percentages: (1) The courthouse security fund, municipal court building security fund, or consolidated municipal court building security and technology fund, as appropriate 35 percent; (2) makes no changes to this subdivision; (3) The justice court technology fund, municipal court technology fund, or consolidated municipal court building security and technology fund, as appropriate 28.5714 percent; and (4) makes no changes to this subdivision. Makes nonsubstantive changes to this subsection. SECTION 5. Makes application of this Act prospective. SECTION 6. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2025.
BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center H.B. 1950
By: Capriglione (Hancock)
Economic Development
5/2/2025
Engrossed
Senate Research Center
H.B. 1950
By: Capriglione (Hancock)
Economic Development
5/2/2025
Engrossed
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Municipal courts play a critical role in ensuring local justice and public safety. To support their operations, Texas law currently allows municipalities to collect fees dedicated to court security and technology enhancements. However, in certain municipalities, managing these funds separately can create administrative inefficiencies and limit the flexibility to address security and technology priorities effectively.
H.B. 1950 seeks to allow certain municipalities to consolidate their Municipal Court Security Fund and Municipal Court Technology Fund into a single fund. This change would streamline fund administration and preserve the designated purposes of security and technology expenditures. Providing flexibility in managing these resources will allow municipal court operations to be more effective while still maintaining accountability for how funds are allocated.
H.B. 1950 amends current law relating to the consolidated municipal court security and technology fund in certain municipalities.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Article 102.017, Code of Criminal Procedure, by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (g), as follows:
(a) Creates an exception under Subsection (g).
(g) Provides that Article 102.017 (Courthouse Security Fund; Municipal Court Building Security Fund; Justice Court Building Security Fund) does not apply to a municipality with a population of less than 100,000.
SECTION 2. Amends Article 102.0172, Code of Criminal Procedure, by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (d), as follows:
(a) Creates an exception under Subsection (d).
(d) Provides that Article 102.0172 (Municipal Court Technology Fund) does not apply to a municipality with a population of less than 100,000.
SECTION 3. Amends Subchapter A, Chapter 102, Code of Criminal Procedure, by adding Article 102.0175, as follows:
Art. 102.0175. CONSOLIDATED MUNICIPAL COURT BUILDING SECURITY AND TECHNOLOGY FUND. (a) Provides that this section applies only to a municipality with a population of less than 100,000.
(b) Provides that the consolidated municipal court building security and technology fund is a fund in the municipal court treasury. Provides that the fund consists of money allocated to the fund under Section 134.103 (Local Consolidated Fee on Conviction of Nonjailable Misdemeanor), Local Government Code.
(c) Provides that money deposited in a consolidated municipal court building security and technology fund is authorized to be used only for the purpose authorized under Article 102.017(b) (relating to authorized uses for money deposited in a courthouse security fund) or (c) (relating to defining "security personnel, services, and items") for use of a municipal court technology fund or Article 102.0172(b) (relating to authorized uses for money in the municipal court technology fund) for use of a municipal court technology fund.
(d) Requires that the consolidated municipal court building security and technology fund be administered by or under the direction of the governing body of the municipality.
SECTION 4. Amends Section 134.103(b), Local Government Code, as follows:
(b) Requires the treasurer to allocate the court costs received under this section to the following accounts and funds so that each receives to the extent practicable, utilizing historical data as applicable, the same amount of money the account or fund would have received if the court costs for the accounts and funds had been collected and reported separately, except that the account or fund is prohibited from receiving less than the following percentages:
(1) The courthouse security fund, municipal court building security fund, or consolidated municipal court building security and technology fund, as appropriate 35 percent;
(2) makes no changes to this subdivision;
(3) The justice court technology fund, municipal court technology fund, or consolidated municipal court building security and technology fund, as appropriate 28.5714 percent; and
(4) makes no changes to this subdivision.
Makes nonsubstantive changes to this subsection.
SECTION 5. Makes application of this Act prospective.
SECTION 6. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2025.