LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE 75th Regular Session March 23, 1997 TO: Honorable Bill Ratliff, Chair IN RE: Senate Bill No. 918 Committee on Finance By: Patterson, Jerry Senate Austin, Texas FROM: John Keel, Director In response to your request for a Fiscal Note on SB918 ( Relating to funding the costs of apprehending certain inmates for whom warrants are issued by the Board of Pardons and Paroles or the pardons and paroles division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.) this office has detemined the following: Biennial Net Impact to General Revenue Funds by SB918-As Introduced Implementing the provisions of the bill would result in a net negative impact of $(21,101,563) 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 Government Code to create a new dedicated account in the General Revenue Fund called the fugitive apprehension account. The Legislature could appropriate funds in the account only for the purpose of paying the cost to the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) of apprehending individuals for whom warrants have been issued for violation of parole or mandatory supervision conditions. Also, the bill would amend the Code of Criminal Procedure to require the Comptroller of Public Accounts to determine whether the amount of money credited, and money estimated to be subsequently credited during the biennium, to the dedicated Compensation to Victims of Crime Account and dedicated Compensation to Victims of Crime Auxiliary Account (both accounts are within the General Revenue Fund) exceed the amount of money necessary during the biennium to pay compensation to victims and other administration expenses. If the Comptroller determines that an excess amount of money exists or will exist in the accounts, the Comptroller would be required to transfer 30 percent of the excess amount from the Compensation to Victims of Crime Account to the fugitive apprehension account on September 1, 1997 (or as the excess amount becomes available). The bill would take effect upon passage and all provisions of the bill would expire September 1, 1999. Methodolgy The Comptroller estimates that on or after September 1, 1997, $54.9 million could be transferred to the fugitive apprehension account from the Compensation to Victims of Crime Account; however, the figure is subject to change depending on the actual amounts appropriated by the Legislature. The Comptroller also indicates the bill would require a transfer of an amount that could include federal funds. Estimated costs to DPS for apprehending the individuals targeted by the bill would include expenses for 27 additional staff, equipment, and other operating expenses. As a result of the additional apprehension efforts by DPS, additional incarceration costs to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice are also estimated. 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 Probable Revenue Probable Probable Change in Number Savings/(Cost) Gain/(Loss) from Savings/(Cost) Savings/(Cost) of State from New GR-Dedicated from New from General Employees from Compensation to Account - GR-Dedicated Revenue Fund FY 1997 Victims of Crime Account - Account/ GR-Dedicated 0469 8021 8021 0001 1998 ($54,853,000) $54,853,000 ($2,983,975) ($7,414,063) 27.0 1998 0 0 (1,961,333) (13,687,500) 27.0 2000 0 0 0 (6,273,438) 0.0 2001 0 0 0 0 0.0 2002 0 0 0 0 0.0 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 ($7,414,063) 1999 (13,687,500) 2000 (6,273,438) 2001 0 2002 0 Similar annual fiscal implications would continue as long as the provisions of the bill are in effect. It is estimated local county jails would incur additional incarceration costs as a result of the bill. Costs would vary between counties due to several factors, such as different jail operating costs and the locations where additional parole and mandatory supervision violators would be apprehended. The DPS estimates the bill could provide approximately $558,000 each year to local law enforcement agencies providing assistance to the DPS fugitive apprehension unit. Source: Agencies: 696 Department of Criminal Justice 405 Department of Public Safety 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts LBB Staff: JK ,RR ,JN