LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
FISCAL NOTE, 77th Regular Session
March 28, 2001
TO: Honorable Kenneth Armbrister, Chair, Senate Committee on
Criminal Justice
FROM: John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE: HB519 by Gallego (Relating to the compensation to
victims of family violence or sexual assault for
relocation and housing rental expenses.), As Engrossed
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* Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for *
* HB519, 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 $(347,344) *
* 2003 (404,809) *
* 2004 (404,809) *
* 2005 (404,809) *
* 2006 (404,809) *
*****************************************************
Fiscal Analysis
The legislation amends the statutes governing the crime victims
compensation program to make victims of sexual assault who are assaulted
in their own homes eligible for reimbursement for relocation and housing
rental expenses. Victims eligible under these provisions may receive a
one-time assistance payment of no more than $2,000 for relocation
expenses and $1,800 for housing rental expenses. Under current
statutory provisions, only victims of domestic violence, which may
include sexual assault, are eligible for such benefits. This
legislation is effective September 1, 2001 and applies only to a victim
of a criminal offense that occurs on after the effective date.
Methodology
The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) projects that the number of
claims filed by victims of sexual assault and on behalf of victims of
child sexual assault will be 5,436 in fiscal year 2002, and increase to
6,345 the next year as awareness of the compensation program increases.
The OAG did not have information on how many of these assaults occured
in the home of the victim. The OAG estimated that 5% of the claimants
would decide to relocate and request reimbursement, resulting in 272
additional claims in fiscal year 2002 and 317 additional claims in fiscal
year 2003 and afterwards. The estimate of 5% is based on several
factors: that many sexual assaults occur outside of the home and would
not be covered by this legislation, and that relocation is more difficult
for victims who own their homes rather than rent.
In fiscal year 2000, the OAG paid an average of $1,277 per claim on
domestic violence relocation claims. Using that per claim average, an
additional $347,344 would be paid out in fiscal year 2002, increasing to
$404,809 in subsequent years.
Local Government Impact
No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
Source Agencies: 302 Office of the Attorney General
LBB Staff: JK, JC, SC