| TO: | Honorable John Whitmire, Chair, Senate Committee on Criminal Justice |
| FROM: | John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board |
| IN RE: | HB3613 by Latham (Relating to identification cards issued to peace officers, reserve law enforcement officers, and honorably retired peace officers by a law enforcement agency or other governmental entity.), As Engrossed |
The bill would add Subchapter H to Chapter 614, Government Code, to require a law enforcement agency or other governmental entity that appoints or employs a peace officer or reserve peace officer to issue an identification card to its full-time and part-time peace officers and reserve officers. The agency or entity would also be authorized to issue an identification card to an honorably retired peace officer if the entity was the last to employ the officer. The bill stipulates what information must be included on the ID card, that there must be an expiration date, and that the cards must be tamper-proof. The bill also includes procedures for if an ID card is lost or stolen.
Each law enforcement agency or other governmental entity required to issue an identification card must issue the cards by not later than January 1, 2008. The bill would take effect September 1, 2007.
The Department of Public Safety reports that the agency already issues identification cards, but uses a different format and information than required in the bill; however, the agency anticipates implementation can be accomplished within existing resources.
The fiscal impact would vary by entity, depending on the number of peace officers employed or retired from the agency.
The Houston Police Department, with approximately 4,900 active and 6,900 retired officers, estimates additional costs of $72,235 for supplies for issuing new identification cards and $156,751 in costs of having officers take time from normal duties to have their photos and thumbprints taken, for a total cost of $228,986 each card cycle.
The Abilene Police Department would have to replace 180 ID cards, at a cost of $2,340. The department already has an electronic card printing system and would only have to modify their card template, purchase equipment to take electronic thumbprints, and re-issue cards.
The Travis County Sheriff's Office reports that the costs would be insignificant; however, the agency is in the process of phasing in a new ID for sworn staff and would incur additional expenses to redesign their system and cards.
| Source Agencies: | 405 Department of Public Safety
|
| LBB Staff: | JOB, ES, DB
|