The Courts of Justice Subcommittee on Criminal Law voted 8–0 to recommend reporting HB 1553, a bill that removes the statutory requirement to mail or deliver a copy of a criminal-case notice of appeal to the attorney general when an appeal is filed to the Court of Appeals.

Sponsor Delegate Williams said the requirement created redundancy and confusion for the attorney general’s office because the AG need not become counsel of record until jurisdiction shifts from the lower court to the Court of Appeals. "With the change ... the AG's office doesn't need to have notice until jurisdiction is changed from the lower court to the Court of Appeals," Williams said.

There were no witnesses against the bill. No fiscal impact or other concerns were raised in subcommittee testimony. After the sponsor’s closing remarks, the subcommittee moved, seconded and recorded a unanimous vote to report HB 1553 to the next stage.

The subcommittee’s recommendation advances the bill to further committee consideration.