Art. 17.0331. IMPACT STUDY    

(b) Each county to which this article applies shall conduct an impact study to determine the effect of Article 17.033(a-1) on the county's ability to control and process the county's misdemeanor caseload, including a specific assessment of the effect of that subsection on:

(1) the average number of hours a person who is arrested for a misdemeanor is detained in jail before being released on bond;

(2) bonding practices, including the number of persons released on personal bond;

(3) the inmate population in a county jail and in each municipal jail located in the county;

(4) the number of arrests for misdemeanor offenses;

(5) public safety;

(6) costs to the criminal justice system; and

(7) the number of applications filed by the attorney representing the state under Article 17.033(c).

(c) The county shall also determine whether a more cost-effective method of controlling and processing misdemeanor caseloads exists than an extension of the period for which a person may be detained after a misdemeanor arrest.

(d) Not later than October 15, 2012, the county must file the impact study with:

(1) the commissioners court of the county;

(2) the Senate Committee on Criminal Justice;

(3) the Senate Committee on Jurisprudence; and

(4) the House Criminal Jurisprudence Committee.

(e) The county shall make the results of the impact study available to the public.

(f) This article expires on September 1, 2013.