LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
FISCAL NOTE
75th Regular Session
April 17, 1997
TO: Honorable Irma Rangel, Chair IN RE: House Bill No. 2617, Committee Report 1st House, Substituted
Committee on Higher Education By: Oakley
House
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-Committee Report 1st House, Substituted
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 ,LP ,DB