LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
FISCAL NOTE, 77th Regular Session
April 26, 2001
TO: Honorable Kenneth Armbrister, Chair, Senate Committee on
Criminal Justice
FROM: John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE: HB131 by Deshotel (Relating to the use of the
compensation to victims of crime fund to reimburse the
reasonable costs of certain victims' medical
examinations.), As Engrossed
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* Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for *
* HB131, As Engrossed: positive impact of $0 through the biennium *
* ending August 31, 2003. *
* *
* The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal *
* basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of *
* the bill. *
**************************************************************************
General Revenue-Related Funds, Five-Year Impact:
****************************************************
* Fiscal Year Probable Net Positive/(Negative) *
* Impact to General Revenue Related *
* Funds *
* 2002 $0 *
* 2003 0 *
* 2004 0 *
* 2005 0 *
* 2006 0 *
****************************************************
All Funds, Five-Year Impact:
*****************************************************
* Fiscal Year Probable Savings/(Cost) from *
* Compensation to Victims of Crime *
* Account/ GR-Dedicated *
* 0469 *
* 2002 $(3,810,000) *
* 2003 (4,190,000) *
* 2004 (4,610,000) *
* 2005 (5,100,000) *
* 2006 (5,580,000) *
*****************************************************
Fiscal Analysis
The bill would allow the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) to use the
Compensation to Victims of Crime Fund to reimburse local law enforcement
agencies for the reasonable costs associated with medical examinations of
victims of alleged sexual assault. Currently, those costs are paid by
the local law enforcement agencies.
If reimbursement requests were submitted for all examinations, the OAG
estimates that the cost would be $3.81 million in fiscal year 2002 and
increase to $5.58 million in fiscal year 2006.
Methodology
Based on information the OAG obtained from the Texas Uniform Crime
Report, there were 7,629 rapes committed in Texas in 1999. The OAG
assumed that reimbursement will be requested for all examinations, and
that the number of requests will increase by 10% annually. The OAG
anticipates an increase in the number of medical examinations as police
departments become less hesitant to order a medical examination since the
cost will be reimbursed.
The fee currently charged to law enforcement for the examinations
includes the examiner's fee, facility fee, and supplies (rape kit,
etc.). The OAG determined that the total cost ranged from $325 to $550.
An average price of $450 per examination is used for calculations in
this estimate.
Local Government Impact
Local law enforcement agencies would realize savings in the amounts shown
above.
Source Agencies: 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts, 302 Office of
the Attorney General
LBB Staff: JK, JC, SC