LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                              Austin, Texas
                                     
                    FISCAL NOTE, 77th Regular Session
                                Revision 1
  
                              April 18, 2001
  
  
          TO:  Honorable Kenneth Armbrister, Chair, Senate Committee on
               Criminal Justice
  
        FROM:  John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
  
       IN RE:  SB1120  by Armbrister (Relating to the liability of a
               criminal defendant and the defendant's sureties on a
               personal bond or bail bond and to certain procedures in
               connection with a bond forfeiture.), As Introduced
  
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*  No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.        *
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The bill would amend the Code of Criminal Procedure by adding and
changing several  provisions concerning bail bonds and sureties on those
bonds and recovery of bond forfeitures.
  
Local Government Impact
  
Counties contacted indicated that implementation of the provisions of the
bill would result in revenue loss of about 30 percent of bond
forfeitures annually.  For Dallas County, that would be a loss of
approximately $725,000.  Additionally, Dallas County's budget office
indicated there would be the need to hire an additional FTE to check on
whether or not the principals had been arrested during the applicable
12-month period, adding an annual cost of $40,000.

Brazos County estimated an annual revenue loss of $74,000; Denton County,
a loss of $140,000; Fort Bend County a loss of $200,000; and Travis
County projected an annual loss of between $250,000 and $300,000.
  
  
Source Agencies:   
LBB Staff:         JK, DB, JC