| TO: | Honorable Wayne Smith, Chair, House Committee on County Affairs |
| FROM: | John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board |
| IN RE: | HB1355 by Gattis (Relating to dog attacks on persons; creating an offense.), As Introduced |
The bill would amend the Health and Safety Code as it relates to dog attacks on persons. Under the provisions of the bill, a dog attack that results in serious bodily injury would be punishable as a felony of the third degree and a dog attack that results in death would be punishable as a felony of the second degree. A dog attack that results in bodily injury would remain punishable as a Class C misdemeanor. The bill would also repeal Section 822.044 (d), Health and Safety Code.
The bill would take effect September 1, 2007 and apply only to an offense committed on or after the effective date.
In fiscal year 2005, one person was placed on misdemeanor community supervision for a dog attack that resulted in serious bodily injury/death. It is assumed the number of persons convicted under this statute would not result in a significant impact on the programs and workload of state corrections agencies or on the demand for resources and services of those agencies.
| Source Agencies: | 696 Department of Criminal Justice
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| LBB Staff: | JOB, DB, GG, LM
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