LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                              Austin, Texas
                                     
                    FISCAL NOTE, 77th Regular Session
  
                              April 26, 2001
  
  
          TO:  Honorable Bob Turner, Chair, House Committee on Public
               Safety
  
        FROM:  John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
  
       IN RE:  SB1648  by Bernsen (Relating to the application of the
               sex offender registration program to certain persons who
               violate the laws of another state or violate federal
               law, including military law.), As Engrossed
  
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*  No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.        *
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The bill would require that the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS),
for the purposes of the sex offender registration program, determine
whether an offense under the laws of another state, federal law, or the
Uniform Code of Military Justice contains elements that are
substantially similar to the elements of an offense under Texas laws.
Provisions of the bill would require that an appeal of the determination
made by the DPS would be brought in a district court in Travis County.
  
Local Government Impact
  
The Travis County district clerk's office estimates that a minimum cost
per case without appeal would be approximately $750 each; minimum cost
per case with appeal is estimated to be close to $970 each.  Travis
County indicated that these costs are based only on staff and overhead
involved for the simplest of cases.  The costs would increase for
complex cases, particularly if there would be a change in counsel,
intervention of a third party, or pro se representation.
  
  
Source Agencies:   
LBB Staff:         JK, JC, JB, DB