LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE, 76th Regular Session April 8, 1999 TO: Honorable Ken Armbrister, Chair, Senate Committee on Criminal Justice 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.), Committee Report 1st House, as amended ************************************************************************** * 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