LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
FISCAL NOTE
74th Regular Session
May 2, 1995
TO: Honorable John Whitmire, Chair IN RE: Senate BillNo. 1276
Committee on Criminal Justice By: Montford
Senate
Austin, Texas
FROM: John Keel, Director
In response to your request for a Fiscal Note on Senate Bill No.
1276 (relating to the creation and administration of the crime
victims' institute and the crime victims' institute account) 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 amend the Government Code by adding Chapter 412,
to create the Crime Victims' Institute in the Office of the
Attorney General. The Institute would compile and study
information concerning the impact of crime on victims and
society; use information compiled by the Institute to evaluate
the effectiveness of criminal justice policy and juvenile justice
policy in preventing the victimization of society by crime;
develop policies to assist the criminal justice system and the
juvenile justice system in preventing the victimization of
society by crime; and provide information and assistance to
communities, service providers, state agencies, and law
enforcement authorities in order to address the needs of victims.
The bill would also create the Crime Victims Institute Advisory
Policy Council as an advisory council to the Institute. The
Council would be composed of the Attorney General, a member of
the House of Representatives, a member of the Senate, and twelve
other members appointed by the Attorney General. The Policy
Council would study the impact of crime on victims, secondary
victims, and society; make recommendations to the Attorney
General and the Legislature for improving the criminal justice
system's and the juvenile justice system's services to victims
and secondary victims; and advise the Institute for the purpose
of improving services to victims and secondary victims.
The bill would create the Crime Victims' Institute Account as an
account in the general revenue fund, and the Attorney General
would be allowed to use funds from this account to carry out the
purposes of Chapter 412. The bill provides that the Attorney
General or the Institute may accept gifts, grants, or matching
funds from a public or private source for the performance of the
duties of the Institute. The Legislature may appropriate money
to the Institute to the credit of the Crime Victims' Institute
account to be used for the purposes of the bill.
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 Probable Cost Out
Year Gain to Federal of Federal Funds
Funds 555 555
1996 $404,910 $404,910
1997 380,335 380,335
1998 380,335 380,335
1999 380,335 380,335
2000 380,335 380,335
Similar annual fiscal implications would continue as long as the
provisions of the bill are in effect.
No fiscal implication to units of local government is
anticipated.
Source: Office of the Attorney General
LBB Staff: JK, JC, RR