AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
C.S.S.B. 418 authorizes the State Commission on Judicial Conduct (SCJC) to obtain from a court reporter a true and correct copy of the backup audio media recording, if one exists, as part of the complaint review process.
These recordings are often useful in determining the environment present within a court proceeding that is not attainable through transcripts of conversations.
C.S.S.B. 418 proposes a simple requirement to aid SCJC in completion of its duties.
C.S.S.B. 418 amends current law relating to requests by the State Commission on Judicial Conduct for certain records held by court reporters.
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 Section 33.030, Government Code, by adding Subsection (c), to require an official court reporter, on request of the State Commission on Judicial Conduct (SCJC), to produce to SCJC at no cost to SCJC a true and correct copy of the backup audio media recording if the official court reporter has a backup audio media recording of a court proceeding.
SECTION 2. Provides that Section 52.046, Government Code, as amended by this Act, applies only to conduct that occurs on or after the effective date of this Act. Provides that conduct that occurs before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the conduct occurred, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
SECTION 4. Effective date: September 15, 2015.