LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE 74th Regular Session April 5, 1995 TO: Honorable Allen Hightower, Chair IN RE: Senate BillNo. 279, Committee on Corrections as engrossed House of Representatives By: Brown Austin, Texas FROM: John Keel, Director In response to your request for a Fiscal Note on Senate Bill No. 279 (relating to the identification of inmates of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice and other convicted persons as illegal criminal aliens.) this office has determined the following: 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 bill would implement part of Texas Performance Review -- Gaining Ground recommendation PSC2. The bill would require the Texas Department of Criminal Justice to determine the citizenship status of inmates. The bill would require the Department of Criminal Justice to notify the Immigration and Naturalization Service of any inmates determined to be undocumented aliens. It would also require the Department to develop a system of deporting undocumented aliens upon eligibility for parole or release on mandatory supervision. The revenue assumptions below are based upon the Comptroller's estimate of increased federal funds becoming available to Texas to compensate the state for the incarceration of illegal aliens. The amount of federal funds below is less than previously identified in Gaining Ground because this bill would not include offenders sentenced to substance abuse felony punishment facilities. The probable fiscal implication of implementing the provisions of the bill during each of the first five years following passage is estimated as follows: Fiscal Probable Revenue Year Gain - Federal Funds 555 1996 $9,695,000 1997 16,413,000 1998 13,521,000 1999 14,040,000 2000 13,224,000 Similar annual fiscal implications would continue as long as the provisions of the bill are in effect. Fiscal implications to units of local government cannot be determined. Source: Comptroller of Public Accounts, Department of Criminal Justice LBB Staff: JK, BL, DF, RR