LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
 
CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT STATEMENT
 
78TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
 
January 28, 2003

TO:
Honorable Frank Madla, Chair, Senate Committee on Intergovernmental Relations
 
FROM:
John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
 
IN RE:
SB80 by Zaffirini (Relating to the punishment for the offense of reckless discharge of a firearm in certain municipalities.), As Introduced

The bill would amend the Penal Code by enhancing the punishment for the offense of discharge of firearm in certain municipalities from a Class A misdemeanor to a state jail felony. 

A Class A misdemeanor is punishable by confinement in county jail for a term not to exceed one year, a fine not to exceed $4,000, or both fine and imprisonment. A state jail felony is punishable by confinement in a state jail for any term of not more than two years or less than 180 days, or, in addition to confinement, a fine not to exceed $10,000.

Increasing the penalty for any criminal offense is expected to result in increased demands upon the correctional resources of counties or of the State due to longer terms of probation, or, longer terms of confinement in county jails or prison. When an offense is changed from a misdemeanor to a felony, there is a transfer of the burden of confinement of convicted offenders from the counties to the State. In the case of this bill, the increased workload and demand for resources would probably not be substantial.


Source Agencies:
LBB Staff:
JK, GG