BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 4471

By: Goldman

Pensions, Investments & Financial Services

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The state's crime victims' compensation program, administered by the attorney general's office, provides financial assistance to victims of certain criminally injurious conduct for expenses such as medical and mental health care costs and costs of relocation to a safer home. There are concerns about the recent decline of funding sources, including state court costs, which have been further exacerbated by the pandemic, resulting in a projected $70 million shortfall for the 2022-2023 fiscal biennium. It has been suggested that a new, more stable funding source is needed. H.B. 4471 seeks to address this shortfall by providing for additional funding sources for victims assistance and sexual assault prevention services under the program.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 4471 amends the Government Code to increase from $9,500 to $50,000 the maximum amount of the nonrefundable fee for examination and approval of a record of proceedings for a public security issue submitted by an issuer to the attorney general. The bill requires such fees collected by the attorney general to be deposited in the state treasury and expended as provided in the general appropriations act. Fees collected in excess of amounts provided in the general appropriations act may be appropriated back to the attorney general for the purpose of administering victim related services and sexual assault programs.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2021.