LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
FISCAL NOTE
75th Regular Session
May 24, 1997
TO: Honorable James E. "Pete" Laney IN RE: House Bill No. 2617, As Passed 2nd House
Speaker of the House Oakley
House of Representatives
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 and
the use of that revenue to fund the Bill Blackwood Law Enforcement
Management Institute) this office has detemined the following:
Biennial Net Impact to General Revenue Funds by HB2617-As Passed 2nd House
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
The 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 bill would take effect September 1, 1997, except SECTION
1, which takes effect only if House Bill 2272, 75th Legislature,
Regular Session, 1997, does not become law.
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