LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                              Austin, Texas
                                     
                    FISCAL NOTE, 76th Regular Session
  
                                May 5, 1999
  
  
          TO:  Honorable Juan Hinojosa, Chair, House Committee on
               Criminal Jurisprudence
  
        FROM:  John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
  
       IN RE:  SB1579  by West, Royce (Relating to the creation of the
               offense of soliciting membership in a criminal street
               gang.), As Engrossed
  
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*  The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal      *
*  basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of    *
*  the bill.                                                             *
**************************************************************************
  

The bill would amend the Penal Code by creating the offense of soliciting
membership in a criminal street gang which would be punishable as a
felony of the third degree.  A second or subsequent offense would be
punishable as a felony of the second degree.

The probable fiscal impact to the State of implementing this bill would
be contingent upon the number of additional felony cases that would be
prosecuted under this section of the Penal Code.
  
Local Government Impact
  
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is
anticipated.
  
  
Source Agencies:   
LBB Staff:         JK, MD, GG