LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
 
FISCAL NOTE, 87TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
 
May 23, 2021

TO:
Honorable John Whitmire, Chair, Senate Committee on Criminal Justice
 
FROM:
Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
 
IN RE:
HB2352 by Parker (Relating to an educational and vocational training pilot program for certain state jail felony defendants and certain inmates released on parole; changing parole eligibility.), Committee Report 2nd House, Substituted


Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB2352, Committee Report 2nd House, Substituted : a negative impact of ($3,942,000) through the biennium ending August 31, 2023.

The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice is required to implement a provision of this Act only if the legislature appropriates money specifically for that purpose. If the legislature does not appropriate money specifically for that purpose, the department may, but is not required to, implement a provision of this Act using other appropriations available for that purpose.

General Revenue-Related Funds, Five- Year Impact:

Fiscal Year Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to
General Revenue Related Funds
2022($1,971,000)
2023($1,971,000)
2024($1,971,000)
2025($1,971,000)
2026($1,971,000)

All Funds, Five-Year Impact:

Fiscal Year Probable Savings/(Cost) from
General Revenue Fund
1
2022($1,971,000)
2023($1,971,000)
2024($1,971,000)
2025($1,971,000)
2026($1,971,000)


Fiscal Analysis

The bill would amend the Government Code to require the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) to establish an educational and vocational training pilot program in at least two but no more than four sites for defendants placed on community supervision or inmates released on parole required to participate as a condition of parole. The bill would also direct TDCJ, along with the Board of Pardons and Paroles, to identify at least 100 inmates annually who would be suitable program participants. The bill would also direct the Office of Court Administration (OCA) to develop and annually provide a training program to educate and inform judges about the pilot program.

According to OCA, the costs associated with the bill's provisions could be absorbed using existing resources. 

This analysis assumes implementing the provisions of the bill would not result in a significant impact on state correctional populations or on the demand for state correctional resources.

Methodology

Under the provisions of the bill, each session of the pilot program would be approximately 180 days and would be limited to 45 participants per quarter per program location. TDCJ would be directed to pay a minimum of $40 per day per participant for employment-related training and support. Assuming 3 program sites with 45 participants at any given time, the annual fiscal impact would be $1,971,000 (3 X 45 X $40 X 365).


Local Government Impact

According to the Texas Association of Counties, no significant fiscal impact to counties is anticipated.


Source Agencies:
212 Office of Court Admin, 696 Department of Criminal Justice, 697 Board of Pardons and Paroles
LBB Staff:
JMc, DKN, KFB, KVEL, AF