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