LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
 
CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT STATEMENT
 
79TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
 
April 20, 2005

TO:
Honorable Terry Keel, Chair, House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence
 
FROM:
John S. O'Brien, Deputy Director, Legislative Budget Board
 
IN RE:
HB2222 by Menendez (Relating to the prosecution and punishment of certain offenses prohibiting animal fighting.), As Introduced

The bill would amend the Penal Code by enhancing the offense of causing a dog to fight with another dog from a Class A misdemeanor to a state jail felony.   The bill would also create the offense of cockfighting.  The bill would make causing a cock to fight with another cock, participating in the operation of a facility used for cockfighting, using or permits another to use any property for cockfighting, and manufacturing, buying, selling, possessing or advertising any sharp implement designed to be used in cockfighting punishable as a state jail felony.
 
A Class A misdemeanor is punishable by confinement in county jail for a term not to exceed one year, a fine not to exceed $4,000, or both fine and imprisonment. 
 
A state jail felony is punishable by confinement in a state jail for any term of not more than two years or less than 180 days, or in addition to confinement, a fine not to exceed $10,000. 
 
Establishing new offenses or increasing the penalty for any criminal offense is expected to result in increased demands upon the correctional resources of the State due to longer terms of probation or longer terms of confinement in prison.  In the case of this bill, the increased workload and demand for resources would probably not be substantial.


Source Agencies:
LBB Staff:
JOB, BT