LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 79TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

February 23, 2005

TO:	Honorable Terry Keel, Chair, House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence
FROM:	John S. O'Brien, Deputy Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB690 by Hopson (Relating to the definition of criminally injurious conduct for purposes of the Crime Victims' Compensation Act.), As Introduced

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would amend Section 56.32 (a) (4) of the Code of Criminal Procedure by including Section 545.157 and Section 545.401 of the Transportation Code and Section 22.05 of the Penal Code within the definition of criminally injurious conduct. Benefits under the Crime Victims’ Compensation Act currently exclude conduct that arises from the use of a motor vehicle, aircraft, or water vehicle from the definition of criminally injurious conduct, except for a few specific vehicular crimes. The bill would take effect September 1, 2005.

The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) anticipates any work resulting from the passage of the bill could be reasonably absorbed with current resources. With regard to additional payments as a result of the bill, the impact to the Crime Victims Compensation Fund (0469) is not expected to be significant and could be absorbed within the OAG’s appropriation request for crime victim payments for the 2006-07 biennium.

Local Government Impact

No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.

Source Agencies:

302 Office of the Attorney General

LBB Staff:

JOB, KJG, WP