Honorable Trent Ashby, Chair, House Committee on Culture, Recreation & Tourism
FROM:
Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB3482 by Turner (Relating to the possession of dangerous wild animals and live nonindigenous snakes in certain counties and municipalities; increasing criminal penalties.), As Introduced
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would prohibit the registration or permit of a dangerous wild animal or nonindigenous snake if possession of the animal violates a county order or municipal ordinance in the location where the animal is to be kept. The bill requires the agency issuing such a registration or permit to notify the county or municipality of the issuance for an animal to be kept in that location. The bill would prohibit the issuance of a permit for a venomous nonindigenous snake if the necessary antivenom is not readily available at a hospital within 50 miles of the location where the snake is to be kept.
The bill would increase the penalty for the offenses of unregistered ownership of a dangerous wild animal, failure to prominently display the certificate of registration, and failure to notify the animal registration agency of any attack or escape of the animal from a Class C misdemeanor to a Class B misdemeanor or a Class A misdemeanor if the defendant has been previously convicted of any such offense. The bill would increase the penalty for offenses related to a nonindigenous snake permit from a Class C misdemeanor to a Class B misdemeanor or a Class A misdemeanor if the defendant has been previously convicted of any such offense and engaged in a commercial activity without holding a required permit.
While no significant fiscal implication to the state is anticipated, according to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD), there are potential one-time technology costs and ongoing personnel costs associated with the implementation of the bill. While TPWD anticipates a decline in permit revenue as a result of the provisions of the bill, the number of permits that would be prohibited by the bill cannot be determined.
It is assumed that any impact on state correctional populations or on the demand for state correctional resources would not be significant.
Local Government Impact
It is assumed that any fiscal impact to units of local government, including those associated with enforcement, prosecution, supervision, or confinement, would not be significant.
Source Agencies:
212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council, 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts, 802 Parks and Wildlife Department