Honorable Nicole Collier, Chair, House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence
FROM:
Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
SB474 by Lucio (Relating to the unlawful restraint of a dog; creating a criminal offense.), Committee Report 2nd House, Substituted
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would repeal and replace the Health and Safety Code subchapter addressing the unlawful restraint of dogs. A first time offense would be a Class C misdemeanor and any repeat violations would be classified as a Class B misdemeanor.
According to the Office of Court Administration, no significant impact to the state court system is anticipated.
Local Government Impact
According to the Texas Association of Counties, the bill is anticipated to have no significant fiscal implication to counties.
A Class C misdemeanor is punishable by a fine of not more than $500. In addition to the fine, punishment can include up to 180 days of deferred disposition. A Class B misdemeanor is punishable by a fine of not more than $2,000, confinement in jail for a term not to exceed 180 days, or both. Costs associated with enforcement, prosecution and confinement could likely be absorbed within existing resources. Revenue gain from fines imposed and collected is not anticipated to have a significant fiscal implication.