LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                                   Austin, Texas
         
                                   FISCAL NOTE
                               75th Regular Session
         
                                  March 25, 1997
         
         
      TO: Honorable Allen Place, Chair            IN RE:  House Bill No. 521
          Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence                              By: Galloway, Carolyn
          House
          Austin, Texas
         
         
         
         
         FROM:  John Keel, Director    
         
In response to your request for a Fiscal Note on HB521 ( Relating 
to the punishment for the offense of burglary of a vehicle.) 
this office has detemined the following:
         
         Biennial Net Impact to General Revenue Funds by HB521-As Introduced
         
Implementing the provisions of the bill would result in a net 
negative impact of $(5,445,794) to General Revenue Related Funds 
through the biennium ending August 31, 1999.
         
The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal 
basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions 
of the bill.
         
 
Fiscal Analysis
 
The bill would enhance the punishment for the offense of burglary 
of a vehicle from a Class A misdemeanor to a felony of the third 
degree.  
 
Methodolgy
 
Enhancing the penalty for the offense of burglary of a vehicle 
from a Class A misdemeanor to a felony of the third degree would 
increase the demand for prison capacity.  In order to estimate 
the number of misdemeanor offenders that would be enhanced to 
third degree felons, future prison admissions are based on admissions 
in fiscal year 1992.  In fiscal year 1992, the offense of burglary 
of a motor vehicle was punishable as a felony of the third degree 
and thus reflects the provisions of the bill. 

Costs of incarceration 
are estimated on the basis of $37.50 per inmate per day, reflecting 
approximate costs of either operating state facilities or contracting 
with other entities.  No costs are included for prison construction. 
 Options available to address the increased demand for prison 
capacity that would result from implementation of this bill 
include construction of new prisons and contracting with counties 
or private entities.  
The probable fiscal implications of implementing the provisions 
of the bill during each of the first five years following passage 
is estimated as follows:
 
Five Year Impact:
 
Fiscal Year Probable           
            Savings/(Cost)                                                                                
            from General                                                                                  
            Revenue Fund                                                                                  
            0001                                                                                           
       1998      ($1,097,869)                                                                        
       1998       (4,347,925)                                                                        
       2000       (8,396,431)                                                                        
       2001      (11,624,711)                                                                        
       2002      (13,798,673)                                                                        
 
 
         Net Impact on General Revenue Related Funds:
 
The probable fiscal implication to General Revenue related funds 
during each of the first five years is estimated as follows:
 
              Fiscal Year      Probable Net Postive/(Negative)
                               General Revenue Related Funds
                                             Funds
               1998         ($1,097,869)
               1999          (4,347,925)
               2000          (8,396,431)
               2001         (11,624,711)
               2002         (13,798,673)
 
Similar annual fiscal implications would continue as long as 
the provisions of the bill are in effect.
          
Some positive fiscal implication to counties would be anticipated 
due to reduced population in county jails.
          
   Source:            Agencies:   
                                         
                      LBB Staff:   JK ,CB ,GG