LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
 
CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT STATEMENT
 
80TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
 
April 13, 2007

TO:
Honorable Aaron Pena, Chair, House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence
 
FROM:
John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
 
IN RE:
HB1258 by West, George "Buddy" (Relating to the prosecution of the offense of interference with police service animals.), As Introduced

The bill would amend the Penal Code as it relates to interference with police service animals to include injuring or engaging in conduct likely to injure the animal in a manner that would materially and permanently affect the ability of the animal to perform as a police service animal, punishable as a felony of the second degree.  The bill would also increase the punishment for killing or engaging in conduct likely to kill a police service animal to a felony of the second degree.  Killing or engaging in conduct likely to kill a police service animal is punishable as a felony of the third degree.

 

A felony of the third degree is punishable by imprisonment in the institutional division for any term of not more than 10 years or less than 2 years, or, in addition to confinement, a fine not to exceed $10,000.

 

A felony of the second degree is punishable by imprisonment in the institutional division for any term of not more than 20 years or less than 2 years, or, in addition to confinement, a fine not to exceed $10,000.

 

In fiscal year 2006, less than ten offenders were placed on community supervision for interference with police service animals and no one was sentenced to confinement in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice for interference with police service animals.  Assuming the same number of offenders in future years, implementation of the bill is not expected to have a significant impact on criminal justice populations.


Source Agencies:
LBB Staff:
JOB, TM