| TO: | Honorable Terry Keel, Chair, House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence |
| FROM: | John S. O'Brien, Deputy Director, Legislative Budget Board |
| IN RE: | SB309 by Lucio (Relating to the creation of an address confidentiality program to assist victims of family violence, sexual assault, or stalking in maintaining confidential addresses.), Committee Report 2nd House, As Amended |
| Fiscal Year | Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds |
|---|---|
| 2006 | $0 |
| 2007 | $0 |
| 2008 | $0 |
| 2009 | $0 |
| 2010 | $0 |
| Fiscal Year | Probable (Cost) from CRIME VICTIMS AUX ACCT 494 |
Change in Number of State Employees from FY 2005 |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | ($371,106) | 4.0 |
| 2007 | ($403,355) | 5.0 |
| 2008 | ($458,450) | 6.0 |
| 2009 | ($514,331) | 7.0 |
| 2010 | ($571,077) | 8.0 |
The bill would also amend Article 56.54 of the Code of Criminal Procedure by adding Subsection (1) to allow the OAG to use the Compensation to Victims of Crime Auxiliary Fund to cover the costs of implementing this program. The OAG would be required to implement the program by June 1, 2006.
The Act would take effect immediately if it receives two-thirds vote of all the members elected to each house or on September 1, 2005.
Based on analysis of data from 10 states that operate similar programs, the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) estimates approximately 2,153 participants in the first year (FY 2006), resulting in approximately 97,402 pieces of mail to forward. The OAG also estimates that the program would grow by 10 percent each year.
A public awareness requirement would be necessary to educate others about the program and application requirements; specifically, to inform and train the state and local agencies that provide counseling and shelter services to victims of family violence. The proposed legislation authorizes the OAG to require these entities to "provide access to the program, including making program information and application materials available and providing assistance in completing program applications."
It is anticipated that additional staff will be needed to process the high volume of mail that is associated with the mail-forwarding project and to handle the additional duties of promotion and training associated with development of the awareness program beginning in fiscal year 2006. Two Administrative Assistant II positions and two Information Specialist I positions in fiscal years 2006 to 2010 and one additional Administrative Assistant II position added in each of the remaining fiscal years (fiscal years 2007 to 2010) would be added to the Crime Victims Services Division.
Estimated travel cost for each fiscal year from 2006 to 2010 is $43,200. This includes six public awareness presentations per month per trainer (two Information Specialist I positions) at approximately $300 per training presentation.
Annual cost for each fiscal year 2006 to 2010 for the development and printing of brochures and application forms for the awareness and availability of the Address Confidentiality Program is $23,300. Brochures and applications would be published in English and Spanish.
The cost for fiscal year 2006 to process 97,402 pieces of mail to program participants at a rate of $0.734 is $71,493. It is estimated that the program would grow by 10 percent each year.
The technology impact to the OAG to implement the provisions of the bill would require network stations at a cost of $8,148 in fiscal year 2006 and $2,037 each fiscal year thereafter.
| Source Agencies: | 302 Office of the Attorney General, 307 Secretary of State, 530 Department of Family and Protective Services
|
| LBB Staff: | JOB, SR, MS, NR, KJG
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