LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 79TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

March 28, 2005

TO:	Honorable Rick Hardcastle, Chair, House Committee on Agriculture & Livestock
FROM:	John S. O'Brien, Deputy Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB521 by Goolsby (Relating to restraining dogs with certain chains or tethers; providing criminal penalties.), As Introduced

No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would amend the Penal Code by adding to the list of what constitutes cruelty to animals restraining a dog with a chain or tether attached to a tree, stake, or other stationary object for eight or more hours in a 24-hour period. Certain exceptions would exist. An offense would be a Class A misdemeanor unless the person convicted had two previous convictions for cruelty to animals, in which case the offense would be a state jail felony. The bill would take effect September 1, 2005.

Adding a new offense under cruelty to animals could result in an increase in the number of animal cruelty offenses investigated by city or county law enforcement, arrests made, trials conducted, and punishment imposed at the county or state jail level. It is anticipated that the increases could be absorbed within existing budgets.

Local Government Impact

No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.

Source Agencies:

LBB Staff:

JOB, WK, DLBa