LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 79TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

May 6, 2005

TO:	Honorable John Whitmire, Chair, Senate Committee on Criminal Justice
FROM:	John S. O'Brien, Deputy Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB291 by Goolsby (Relating to victim notification regarding the release of certain defendants following acquittal by reason of insanity.), As Engrossed

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would amend the Code of Criminal Procedure to require courts releasing defendants following acquittal by reason of insanity to provide the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) with a victim's name, address, and phone number. The bill would require TDCJ to notify the victim, victim's guardian, or victim's close relative of certain inmate releases.  The bill would take effect September 1, 2005. Because TDCJ can absorb the required duties within their existing resources, no significant fiscal impact to the State is anticipated.

Local Government Impact

According to information provided by the County and District Clerks Association, to implement the provisions of the bill, a court would need to hire an additional full-time-equivalent position at an estimated annual salary of $20,000. In addition, the association estimates that a court would incur costs associated with a computer system for storing necessary information and integrating the information with the criminal cases.

The fiscal impact would vary by court depending on existing computer systems and staffing and on the number of cases to which the provisions of the bill would apply annually.

Source Agencies:

696 Department of Criminal Justice

LBB Staff:

JOB, KJG, VDS, AM