LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
FISCAL NOTE
75th Regular Session
April 29, 1997
TO: Honorable John Whitmire, Chair IN RE: House Bill No. 1386, Committee Report 2nd House, as amended
Committee on Criminal Justice By: Gray
Senate
Austin, Texas
FROM: John Keel, Director
In response to your request for a Fiscal Note on HB1386 ( Relating
to the continuation and the functions of the Board of Pardons
and Paroles.) this office has detemined the following:
Biennial Net Impact to General Revenue Funds by HB1386-Committee Report 2nd House, as amended
Implementing the provisions of the bill would result in a net
negative impact of $(144,526) 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 amend the Code of Criminal Procedure to provide
for reviewing the Board of Pardons and Paroles in the same review
period as the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, currently
scheduled for review in time for the 1999 legislative session.
In
addition, the bill would establish a six-member Parole Policy
Board within the existing membership of the Board of Pardons
and Paroles that would be responsible for developing rules for
parole and other policy decisions and hiring a board administrator
to carry out the day-to-day activities of the Board. The bill
would also require the Policy Board to develop an enhanced training
curriculum for all newly hired hearing officers and an annual
training update for all hearing officers.
The bill would
take effect September 1, 1997.
Methodolgy
The Board of Pardons and Paroles is subject to the provisions
of the Texas Sunset Act, but is not abolished under that chapter.
Funding for the Board is included in the appropriation for
the Texas Department of Criminal Justice in the General Appropriations
Act, as introduced. The appropriations would be financed from
the General Revenue Fund and would provide $5,949,492 annually
for fiscal years 1998 and 1999, providing for 157 employees.
The
bill would require the hiring of a board administrator to assume
the day-to-day responsibilities of the Board. Based on the
current salary levels for the Board's general counsel and director
of hearings, this board administrator's position is expected
to have an annual cost of $72,263 for salary, benefits, and
supplies.
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 Change in Number
Savings/(Cost) of State
from General Employees from
Revenue Fund FY 1997
0001
1998 ($72,263) 1.0
1998 (72,263) 1.0
2000 (72,263) 1.0
2001 (72,263) 1.0
2002 (72,263) 1.0
Net Impact on General Revenue Related Funds:
Fiscal Year Probable Net Postive/(Negative)
General Revenue Related Funds
Funds
1998 ($72,263)
1999 (72,263)
2000 (72,263)
2001 (72,263)
2002 (72,263)
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: Agencies: 116 Sunset Advisory Commission
696 Department of Criminal Justice
LBB Staff: JK ,CB ,JN