LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 79TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

March 24, 2005

TO:	Honorable Terry Keel, Chair, House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence
FROM:	John S. O'Brien, Deputy Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB1239 by Hodge (Relating to the implementation of unified drug enforcement strategies.), As Introduced

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill prohibits the Criminal Justice Division of the Governor's Office from awarding a grant to a multijurisdictional task force. The bill permits the awarding of a grant for a unified drug enforcement strategy by multiple law enforcement agencies through an inter-local contract. The bill stipulates that the director of the Department of Public Safety must approve the interlocal contract, and that the contract must include an enforcement strategy, which will be under the command and control of the Department of Public Safety.

Local Government Impact

There could be negative fiscal impact at the local level because drug task force grant funds provide a method of finance for local police and sheriff departments’ personnel, equipment, and overtime costs. There could be a positive fiscal impact for regions that develop interlocal contracts for a unified drug enforcement strategy.

Source Agencies:

301 Office of the Governor, 405 Department of Public Safety

LBB Staff:

JOB, KJG, SMi