LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                              Austin, Texas
                                     
                    FISCAL NOTE, 77th Regular Session
  
                              March 5, 2001
  
  
          TO:  Honorable Fred M. Bosse, Chair, House Committee on Civil
               Practices
  
        FROM:  John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
  
       IN RE:  HB671  by Wilson (Relating to compensation for
               individuals unjustly imprisoned.), As Introduced
  
**************************************************************************
*  No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.        *
**************************************************************************
  
The bill would amend the Civil Practice and Remedies Code to include as
compensation $20,000 for each year the claimant was wrongfully
imprisoned.  The bill would establish a $50,000 limit on compensation for
medical expenses and remove the ceiling on total damages.

The bill would take effect immediately, assuming it received the
requisite two-thirds majority votes in both houses of the Legislature.
Otherwise, it would take effect September 1, 2001.
  
Local Government Impact
  
No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
  
  
Source Agencies:   304   Comptroller of Public Accounts, 302   Office of
                   the Attorney General, 410   Criminal Justice Policy
                   Council, 696   Texas Department of Criminal Justice
LBB Staff:         JK, TB, DB, SC