LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE, 77th Regular Session April 17, 2001 TO: Honorable Juan Hinojosa, Chair, House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence FROM: John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE: HB2085 by Gallego (Relating to the limits on compensation paid by the state to certain victims of crime.), As Introduced ************************************************************************** * Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for * * HB2085, As Introduced: 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 $(9,480,000) * * 2003 (13,320,000) * * 2004 (15,450,000) * * 2005 (16,930,000) * * 2006 (19,970,000) * ***************************************************** Fiscal Analysis The bill amends the provisions in the Code of Criminal Procedure relating to the Crime Victims Compensation program by raising the limits on compensation payments. Currently, payments are limited to a maximum of $50,000, plus another $50,000 for catastrophic claims, for a total combined maximum of $100,000. The bill would increase each of those limits to $75,000, resulting in a total combined maximum of $150,000. This bill takes effect September 1, 2001 and applies only to a claim for compensation on an offense or violation that occurs on or after the effective date. The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) estimates the cost of implementing the provisions of this bill would total $9.48 million in fiscal year 2002 and increase to $19.97 million in fiscal year 2006, paid from the Compensation to Victims of Crime Fund. Methodology The anticipated increase in payments for non-catastrophic claims is based on the payment increases experienced since fiscal year 1998, the last time the payment limits were increased, which ranged from 10% to 15% a year. For non-catastrophic claims, the estimated increase in payments ranges from $8.25 million in fiscal year 2002 to $18.47 million in fiscal year 2006. The estimated increase in payments resulting from the higher limit in catastrophic claims is estimated to be $1.22 million in fiscal year 2002, increasing to $1.50 million in fiscal year 2006. This estimate is based on the projected number of catastrophic claims that exceed the current limits. 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 LBB Staff: JK, JC, SC