TO:	Honorable Nicole Collier, Chair, House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence
FROM:	Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB834 by Thompson, Senfronia (Relating to requiring the corroboration of certain testimony in a criminal case involving a controlled substance.), As Introduced

The bill would amend the Code of Criminal Procedure to prohibit the conviction of a defendant for all Health and Safety Code controlled substances offenses based on the testimony of an undercover law enforcement officer or person acting under the color of law enforcement without sufficient corroboration of that officer or actor's testimony. Currently, corroboration is only required when the undercover individual is not a licensed peace officer or a special investigator.

The change would apply to any case in which a judgment is entered on or after the effective date of the bill.  A case in which a judgment is entered before the effective date of the bill would be governed by law in effect on the date the judgment was entered, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.  

Based on information provided by the Office of Court Administration, no significant fiscal impact to the state court system is anticipated as a result from implementing the provisions of the bill.

Local Government Impact

No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.