LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 80TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

March 12, 2007

TO:	Honorable Aaron Pena, Chair, House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence
FROM:	John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB403 by Hodge (Relating to the early termination of parole or mandatory supervision for certain releasees who successfully complete a residential substance abuse treatment program.), As Introduced

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would amend the Government Code by requiring the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ), Board of Pardons and Paroles to terminate the parole or mandatory supervision of certain inmates if certain conditions are met. The bill further amends that as a condition of release of parole or to mandatory supervision, an inmate who qualifies shall participate in a substance abuse treatment program approved by the Department of State Health Services (DSHS). The DSHS and TDCJ state that overall costs to the state would depend on the number of inmates who agree to participate in the residential substance abuse program.  Both agencies report that it would also depend on the number of existing and new beds needing to be certified, or renewed as a residential substance abuse program. The DSHS estimates that the implementation of the bill would cost $306,247 over the biennium. The DSHS also estimates a possible gain to the state of $167,000 over the biennium for fees attributed from the non-refundable application fee for initial certification. TDCJ states that for estimation purposes, the number of offenders participating in this type of program during fiscal year 2006 totaled 7,939. TDCJ reports that the cost of one offender participating in the program is $5,080 for the 150 days. For the offender requiring the additional 60 days in Transitional Treatment Center, the cost would be an additional $2,032 per offender. The number of offenders on parole would decrease with this initiative depending again, on the number of offenders’ participation in the program.

 

The costs associated with implementing the bill are not anticipated to be significant. If inmates successfully complete the program and do not recidivate, future inmate admissions could be reduced and additional savings could be achieved.  

Local Government Impact

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

Source Agencies:

537 State Health Services, Department of, 696 Department of Criminal Justice

LBB Staff:

JOB, ES, GG, SDO