LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 79TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

May 2, 2005

TO:	Honorable Helen Giddings, Chair, House Committee on Business & Industry
FROM:	John S. O'Brien, Deputy Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	SB327 by Zaffirini (relating to the installation, copying, or use of computer software for unauthorized purposes; providing a penalty. ), Committee Report 2nd House, Substituted

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would prohibit the unauthorized collection or transmission of personally identifiable information, unauthorized transmission or modifications of computer settings, unauthorized interference with installation or disabling of computer software, damage, or any other deceptive act to obtain information from a consumer’s computer.  The bill would provide the Attorney General authority to bring suit to seek injunctive relief and recover civil penalties of an amount not to exceed $100,000 for each violation of this statute as well as reasonable attorneys fees and costs.

Although the proposed legislation may result in new complaints, investigations or cases by the Office of the Attorney General, it is projected that this increase could be absorbed by current resources.

Local Government Impact

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

Source Agencies:

302 Office of the Attorney General

LBB Staff:

JOB, JRO, MS