LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE, 76th Regular Session March 15, 1999 TO: Honorable Senfronia Thompson, Chair, House Committee on Judicial Affairs FROM: John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE: HB938 by Thompson (Relating to the investigation and prosecution of an offense motivated by bias or prejudice and to other remedies for and protections against certain hateful acts.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted ************************************************************************** * No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated. * ************************************************************************** Existing resources would be sufficient to cover estimated needs. However, funding this program would require the re-prioritization of grants to local governments. Annual grant awards combined with the administrative costs are estimated to be $7.5 million per year, and may exceed the funding available in the Criminal Justice Planning Account, Fund No. 421, the General Revenue- Dedicated account earmarked for Criminal Justice Division grants. An additional position is needed in the Governor's Criminal Justice Division to oversee and monitor the estimated 73 additional grant awards anticipated under the provisions of this bill. Assuming that the amount of each grant will not exceed $50,000, annual grant costs would equal $3.7 million. Local Government Impact No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated. The bill would provide eligible counties with grants to assist in prosecuting capital murder cases or "hate" crimes. If funded out of the Criminal Justice Planning Account, the costs associated with implementing this bill would require the reallocation of Criminal Justice Planning Account funds from grants to local criminal justice programs to the new grant program. Source Agencies: LBB Staff: JK, PE