LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 80TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

May 17, 2007

TO:	Honorable John Whitmire, Chair, Senate Committee on Criminal Justice
FROM:	John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB2291 by Farias (Relating to a study of victim-offender mediation programs for juvenile offenders.), As Engrossed

Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB2291, As Engrossed: a negative impact of ($303,840) through the biennium ending August 31, 2009.

General Revenue-Related Funds, Five-Year Impact:

Fiscal Year	Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds
2008	($303,840)
2009	$0
2010	$0
2011	$0
2012	$0

All Funds, Five-Year Impact:

Fiscal Year	Probable (Cost) from GENERAL REVENUE FUND 1
2008	($303,840)
2009	$0
2010	$0
2011	$0
2012	$0

Fiscal Analysis

The bill would require the Juvenile Probation Commission (JPC) to conduct a study of established Texas victim-offender mediation programs for juvenile offenders to determine their potential effect on the juvenile justice system. The study would be required to evaluate the methodology, impact on recidivism rates, success rates for collection of restitution, and costs of victim-offender mediation programs. JPC would be required to consult relevant guidelines issued by the U.S. Department of Justice Office for Victims of Crime and seek assistance from leading experts on victim-offender mediation programs on establishing parameters, information collection techniques, and reasonable legal assumptions in evaluating victim-offender mediation programs. Experts referenced in the bill are limited to persons who have established and currently operate a victim-offender mediation program, persons who direct national projects on victim-offender mediation programs, and professors of law or criminal justice employed by institutions of higher education, as described in Section 61.002, Education Code.

JPC would be required to complete a report not later than July 1, 2008 to include the estimated cost of the implementation and administration of victim-offender mediation programs to state and local governments, a review of the benefits of participation in a victim-mediation program to juvenile offenders and victims, and any recommendations for legislation establishing guidelines for implementing and administering victim-offender mediation programs.     

Methodology

JPC estimates the cost of the study would be $303,840 in fiscal year 2008. The agency would contract with a university or consultant to accomplish the provisions of the bill. The agency's cost estimates include travel to Austin for up to ten national and state experts ($10,000), travel to 40 juvenile probation departments to collect program data (40 trips at $800 equals $32,000), consultant labor for data collection trips (3 days per visit at 8 hours per day for 40 trips at $200 per hour equals $192,000), cost of consultant labor for meeting with JPC administration, data analysis, and report preparation (12 days at 8 hours per day at $200 per hour equals $19,200), and an estimated 20 percent administration charge to administer the contract ($50,640).    

Local Government Impact

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

Source Agencies:

665 Juvenile Probation Commission

LBB Staff:

JOB, ES, GG, AI