LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
 
FISCAL NOTE, 78TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
 
May 22, 2003

TO:
Honorable Terry Keel, Chair, House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence
 
FROM:
John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
 
IN RE:
SB1045 by Ellis, Rodney (Relating to the creation of a joint interim committee to investigate and prevent wrongful convictions.), As Engrossed



Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for SB1045, As Engrossed: a negative impact of ($72,504) through the biennium ending August 31, 2005.

The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill.



Fiscal Year Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds
2004 ($35,541)
2005 ($36,963)
2006 ($38,442)
2007 ($39,978)
2008 ($41,578)




Fiscal Year Probable Savings/(Cost) from
GENERAL REVENUE FUND
1
2004 ($35,541)
2005 ($36,963)
2006 ($38,442)
2007 ($39,978)
2008 ($41,578)

Fiscal Analysis

The bill would establish a joint interim committee on post-conviction exonerations to study the cause of and investigate wrongful criminal convictions, identify appropriate improvements in the criminal justice system, recommend actions to prevent future wrongful convictions, and assess the procedures to ensure due process.  The interim committee would be composed of nine members.  The lieutenant governor would designate one of the members to serve as the chair of the interim committee.  The nine members of the commission would not receive compensation, but would be entitled to reimbursement of travel expenses incurred while conducting official commission business. Not later than October 1, 2004, the interim committee shall prepare and deliver to the governor, the lieutenant governor, and the speaker of the house of representatives, copies of the report containing the interim committee’s findings and recommendations. 


Methodology

For the purposes of this analysis it is assumed that the combined additional costs associated with the bill that would include research services, travel expenses of commission members, and administrative duties, would equal $35,541 for fiscal year 2004 and would increase to $41,578 in fiscal year 2008.   


Local Government Impact

No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.


Source Agencies:
103 Legislative Council, 201 Supreme Court of Texas, 301 Office of the Governor, 302 Office of the Attorney General, 410 Criminal Justice Policy Council, 696 Department of Criminal Justice, 720 The University of Texas System Administration
LBB Staff:
JK, WK, VDS, GG, KG