LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                              Austin, Texas
                                     
                    FISCAL NOTE, 77th Regular Session
  
                              March 6, 2001
  
  
          TO:  Honorable Kenneth Armbrister, Chair, Senate Committee on
               Criminal Justice
  
        FROM:  John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
  
       IN RE:  SB103  by Nelson (Relating to the prosecution of and the
               punishment for certain offenses involving damage or
               destruction of property.), As Introduced
  
**************************************************************************
*  No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.        *
**************************************************************************
  
The bill would amend the Penal Code by enhancing the punishment for
certain arson offenses from a felony of the second degree to a felony of
the first degree.  The bill would also make the offense of criminal
mischief punishable as a state jail felony if the loss to property is
less than $20,000 and the damage is inflicted on a school or an
institution of higher education. The amount of pecuniary loss provision
of the Penal Code would also be amended to reflect damages caused by a
fire or explosion.
  
Local Government Impact
  
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is
anticipated.
  
  
Source Agencies:   
LBB Staff:         JK, JC, GG