LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
FISCAL NOTE, 77th Regular Session
May 11, 2001
TO: Honorable Kenneth Armbrister, Chair, Senate Committee on
Criminal Justice
FROM: John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE: HB3505 by Maxey (Relating to the authority of the
attorney general to fund the establishment of an
information and notification system for crime victims
with the compensation to victims of crime fund.), As
Engrossed
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* Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for *
* HB3505, 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. *
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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:
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*Fiscal Probable Savings/(Cost) from Change in Number of State *
* Year Compensation to Victims of Employees from FY 2001 *
* Crime Account/ GR-Dedicated *
* 0469 *
* 2002 $(1,000,000) 2.0 *
* 2003 (2,000,000) 3.0 *
* 2004 (4,500,000) 3.0 *
* 2005 (4,500,000) 3.0 *
* 2006 (4,500,000) 3.0 *
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Fiscal Analysis
The bill as substituted establishes an information and notification
system for crime victims administered by the Texas Crime Victims'
Clearinghouse at the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Funding for
the program would come from the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) from
the Compensation to Victims of Crime Fund (CVC Fund). This system would
provide a toll-free number for a person to call for information
regarding (a) whether an offender has been released, transferred, or has
escaped from custody; (b) the location of an offender who has been
transferred; and (c) any information reported regarding public court
proceedings related to a criminal offense. Additionally, the victim
could be notified by telephone, facsimile, electronic mail, letter, or
any other reasonable means when there is a change in the custody status
of the offender or the schedule of a public court proceeding related to
the offense.
The OAG estimates that implementing the system would cost $1,000,000 in
the first year and increase to $4,500,000 in the third year after the
system has been extended throughout the state.
Methodology
While the proposed program would be run by TDCJ, the cost estimates were
developed by the OAG based on a pilot project conducted by the Crime
Victims' Institute at the OAG. Costs for implementing the provisions of
HB 3505 include expenses for data interfaces with local law enforcement
agencies, yearly maintenance and administrative costs. It is assumed
that all 254 counties will participate with no local cost sharing. The
OAG's estimates for this fiscal note were calculated using the
individual county interface and maintenance costs associated with the
pilot study. The OAG projects that 2 program administrators and 1
administrative technician will be needed to implement and run the
program. Personnel and related costs, including public awareness
campaigns, are estimated at $265,000 in fiscal year 2002, increasing to
$450,000 once the program is fully implemented in fiscal year 2004.
There will also be costs associated with contracting with a third party
vendor to establish, maintain and monitor the victim information and
notification system. Vendor costs are estimated at $735,000 in fiscal
year 2002, increasing to $4,050,000 in fiscal year 2004.
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, 696 Texas Department of
Criminal Justice
LBB Staff: JK, JC, SC