LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 80TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

April 23, 2007

TO:	Honorable Aaron Pena, Chair, House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence
FROM:	John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	SB823 by Whitmire (Relating to the interception of or the collection of other information from certain communications in an investigation of criminal conduct.), As Engrossed

No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would authorize police departments in certain municipalities, upon proper training and certification, to own, possess, install, operate, or monitor a pen register, ESN reader, or similar equipment. The chief of the police department would be required to submit to the director of the Department of Public Safety a written list of all officers in the agency authorized by the chief to possess, install, operate, or monitor the listed equipment.

The municipalities that would be authorized for training and use of the equipment, based on population restrictions within the bill, would be Austin, Dallas, El Paso, Fort Worth, Houston, and San Antonio.

Local Government Impact

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

Source Agencies:

405 Department of Public Safety, 407 Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education

LBB Staff:

JOB, ES, DB