LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE 75th Regular Session May 15, 1997 TO: Honorable Bill Ratliff, Chair IN RE: House Bill No. 2617, As Engrossed Committee on Finance By: Oakley Senate Austin, Texas FROM: John Keel, Director In response to your request for a Fiscal Note on HB2617 ( Relating to the assessment of certain court costs in criminal cases.) this office has detemined the following: Biennial Net Impact to General Revenue Funds by HB2617-As Engrossed Implementing the provisions of the bill would result in a net impact of $0 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 This bill would amend the Code of Criminal Procedure to increase the court cost imposed by Chapter 415.082 on a person convicted of a criminal offense to $4 from $3.50. Of the amount collected, the bill would increase the amount deposited to the credit of the Bill Blackwood Law Enforcement Management GR-Account 0581 (account) to $1 from $0.50 (subject to the existing 10 percent retainage). The bill would amend Chapter 96 of the Education Code to permit the Board of Regents of the Texas State University System (board) to acquire, purchase, renovate, or construct facilities and other related infrastructure for the Bill Blackwood Enforcement Management Institute of Texas. Any construction or other related costs would be financed by the issuance of bonds. The board would be permitted to pledge a portion of the court costs deposited to the account for the payment of those bonds. Methodolgy It is assumed that the new amount of court costs would apply only to an offense committed on or after the effective date. The estimated increase in revenue to the Bill Blackwood Fund is based on analysis of the Comptroller records of deposits to this account. In FY 1996, 28% of the Bill Blackwood Funds were expended for salaries. It is assumed that the same percentage of the increased revenue would be expended for salaries. The number of new full-time equivalent employees is based upon the amount of increased salary costs divided by the average salary as reported by the institution in their Legislative Appropriation Request. 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 Bill Employees from Blackwood Law FY 1997 Enforcement Management Inst Account/ GR-Dedicated 0581 1998 $1,200,000 8.5 1998 1,800,000 12.8 2000 1,800,000 12.8 2001 1,800,000 12.8 2002 1,800,000 12.8 Net Impact on General Revenue Related Funds: Fiscal Year Probable Net Postive/(Negative) General Revenue Related Funds Funds 1998 $0 1999 0 2000 0 2001 0 2002 0 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: 781 Higher Education Coordinating Board 758 Texas State University System 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts LBB Staff: JK ,RR ,LP ,DB