LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
FISCAL NOTE
75th Regular Session
May 5, 1997
TO: Honorable Bill Ratliff, Chair IN RE: Senate Bill No. 918, Committee Report 1st House, Substituted
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-Committee Report 1st House, Substituted
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.
In addition, the bill would amend
the Code of Criminal Procedure by increasing court costs by
$5.00 for all felony convictions and certain misdemeanor and
municipal ordinances convictions, and by requiring the Comptroller
of Public Accounts to deposit the receipts resulting from the
increase, less a local collection fee, into the Fugitive Apprehension
Account.
The bill would take effect September 1, 1997, with
the change in court costs only applying to persons convicted
of an offense covered by the bill on or after September 1, 1997.
The change in deposits would apply to funds received by the
Comptroller on or after October 1, 1997.
Methodolgy
The Comptroller estimates $11.6 million would be deposited into
the Fugitive Apprehension Account in fiscal year 1998 as a result
of the increased court costs. Approximately $17.3 million would
be deposited each fiscal year thereafter.
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 Revenue Probable Probable Change in Number
Gain/(Loss) from Savings/(Cost) Savings/(Cost) of State
New GR-Dedicated from New from General Employees from
Account GR-Dedicated Revenue Fund FY 1997
Account
8021 8021 0001
1998 $11,619,000 ($2,983,975) ($7,414,063) 27.0
1998 17,342,000 (1,961,333) (13,687,500) 27.0
2000 17,342,000 (1,961,333) (13,687,500) 27.0
2001 17,342,000 (1,961,333) (13,687,500) 27.0
2002 17,342,000 (1,961,333) (13,687,500) 27.0
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 (13,687,500)
2001 (13,687,500)
2002 (13,687,500)
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.
The Comptroller estimates $1.3 million would be retained
in fiscal year 1998 by local government as a result of the local
collection fee allowed on the increased court costs. Approximately
$1.9 million would be retained each fiscal year thereafter.
Source: Agencies: 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts
LBB Staff: JK ,RR ,JN