| TO: | Honorable Harold V. Dutton, Jr., Chair, House Committee on Juvenile Justice & Family Issues |
| FROM: | John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board |
| IN RE: | HB597 by Guillen (Relating to the creation of an address confidentiality program to assist victims of family violence or stalking in maintaining confidential addresses.), As Introduced |
| Fiscal Year | Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds |
|---|---|
| 2008 | $0 |
| 2009 | $0 |
| 2010 | $0 |
| 2011 | $0 |
| 2012 | $0 |
| Fiscal Year | Probable Revenue Gain/(Loss) from CRIME VICTIMS COMP ACCT 469 |
Change in Number of State Employees from FY 2007 |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | ($329,442) | 4.0 |
| 2009 | ($355,712) | 5.0 |
| 2010 | ($400,180) | 6.0 |
| 2011 | ($444,926) | 7.0 |
| 2012 | ($489,965) | 8.0 |
The bill would require the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) to create and maintain an address confidentiality program to assist a victim of family violence and stalking. In addition, the OAG would designate a substitute address for participants, act as the agent to receive and process mail for participants, forward mail received by the agency to participants, and notify the Secretary of State to provide participants an absentee ballot using the substitute address. The OAG would also develop program and application information for participants.
For purposes of analysis, it is assumed that approximately 1,611 participants would be included in the program in the first year and an approximate 5 percent growth rate would result in the program each following year. This information is based on comparison of other states that have similar programs.
As a result of the estimated number of participants and the requirement that the OAG receive, process, and forward mail, it is assumed that approximately 144,990 pieces of mail would be received and forwarded to program participants. As a result, it is anticipated that an additional 2 FTEs would be required to handle the volume and subsequent processing of the additional mail. The salary cost for these additional FTEs would be approximately $76,410. In addition, related costs totaling $16,156 would be required for items such as furniture, computers, and telephones. Other consumables each year thereafter would be approximately $3,500. Also for purposes of this analysis, it is estimated that 1 additional FTE would required each year thereafter as a result of a projected 5% growth rate in the number of participants in the program.
In addition to staff costs, it is assumed that approximately $106,000 would be required for envelopes, labels, and postage costs associated with forwarding mail to participants. For purposes of this analysis, a 5 percent growth rate per year in the volume of mail forwarded is assumed which would increase postage, labels, and envelopes by that percentage each year thereafter.
The OAG would also provide assistance to participants in the form of program information material and assistance with completing program applications. As a result, an additional 2 FTEs would be required at a salary cost of $91,720. In addition, related costs totaling $16,156 would be required for items such as furniture, computers, and telephones. Other consumables each year thereafter would be approximately $3,500. Furthermore, a cost of $23,000 would be required for printing brochures and application forms.
The OAG would also be required to notify the Secretary of State to begin providing a participant who is a registered voter with an absentee ballot, using the participants substitute address. It is assumed that any cost associated with this provision of the bill could be absorbed within the Secretary of State’s current resources.
The bill would take effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house; otherwise, the bill would take effect September 1, 2007.
| Source Agencies: | 302 Office of the Attorney General, 307 Secretary of State
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| LBB Staff: | JOB, MN, SD, JM
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