LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE 75th Regular Session April 8, 1997 TO: Honorable John Whitmire, Chair IN RE: Senate Bill No. 1156, Committee Report 1st House, as amended Committee on Criminal Justice By: Whitmire Senate Austin, Texas FROM: John Keel, Director In response to your request for a Fiscal Note on SB1156 ( Relating to comprehensive revisions to Subchapter B, Chapter 56, Code of Criminal Procedure, the Crime Victims' Compensation Act.) this office has detemined the following: Biennial Net Impact to General Revenue Funds by SB1156-Committee Report 1st House, as amended 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 Subchapter B, Chapter 56, Code of Criminal Procedure, the Crime Victims Compensation Act, in order to expand benefits to victims of crime and their families, to increase the limit on the maximum benefits, to establish a carry forward balance, and to create an emergency reserve. Methodolgy The Office of the Attorney General anticipates that the bill would result in an increase in claims and workload, but that this could be absorbed with current funding. The bill would authorize an increase in payments to crime victims and their families, which could be absorbed by the excess fund balance in the Compensation to Victims of Crime Fund without requiring additional appropriation authority. The bill would also allow a reserve fund to be created from the excess balance of the Compensation to Victims of Crime Fund, for victims of mass violence and terrorism, the amount not to exceed $10,000,000. 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 Savings/(Cost) Gain/(Loss) from from New Emergency Compensation to Reserve Fund Victims of Crime (Dedicated) Account/ GR-Dedicated 0469 NEW-OTH 1998 ($10,000,000) $10,000,000 1998 0 0 2000 0 0 2001 0 0 2002 0 0 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: 302 Office of the Attorney General 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts LBB Staff: JK ,CB