LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE 74th Regular Session March 26, 1995 TO: Honorable Allen Place, Chair IN RE: House Bill No. 1487 Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence By: Counts House of Representatives Austin, Texas FROM: John Keel, Director In response to your request for a Fiscal Note on House Bill No. 1487 (relating to provisions governing insurance fraud, creating a penal offense; and making an appropriation) this office has determined the following: The bill would amend the Penal Code to create specific penalties for filing fraudulent statements in support of insurance claims, authorize the Attorney General to prosecute cases at the request of the District Attorney or County Attorney, and establish the order for distribution of assets forfeited. The bill would re-establish the misdemeanor and felony crimes of insurance fraud, which existed under the old Penal Code. The bill would confer authority to the attorney general to prosecute at the request of the local prosecutor and would permit statewide equal enforcement capability. The bill would make an appropriation to the Attorney General of all fees, costs and civil penalties assessed under the new provisions of the Penal Code. The amount of the appropriation cannot be determined because neither the number of successful insurance fraud prosecutions nor the associated costs, fees or penalty assessments can be estimated. The bill would re-establish the Attorney General Law Enforcement Account and dedicate a revenue source in the State Treasury. The fiscal implication to the State or units of local government cannot be determined. Source: Office of the Attorney General, Comptroller of Public Accounts, Department of Insurance LBB Staff: JK, RM, RR