LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 79TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

February 26, 2005

TO:	Honorable Jerry Madden, Chair, House Committee on Corrections
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 Introduced

No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would amend the Code of Criminal Procedure to require a court that has issued an order under certain statutes that require the release from a mental hospital or from out-patient mental healthcare of a person acquitted by reason of insanity, to make a reasonable effort to notify the victim or victim's guardian or close relative about the release. The bill would take effect September 1, 2005.

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:

212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council

LBB Staff:

JOB, KJG, DLBa