Honorable John Whitmire, Chair, Senate Committee on Criminal Justice
FROM:
John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB1887 by Truitt (Relating to the punishment for and prevention of the offense of burglary of vehicles.), As Engrossed
The provision of the bill that is the subject of this analysis would amend the Penal Code by enhancing the punishment for the offense of burglary of a vehicle from a Class A misdemeanor to a state jail felony for individuals previously convicted two or more times of burglary of a vehicle. The change in law made by this Act applies only to an offense committed on or after September 1, 2007.
A Class A misdemeanor is punishable by confinement in county jail for a term not to exceed one year, a fine not to exceed $4,000, or both fine and imprisonment. A state jail felony is punishable by confinement in a state jail for any term of not more than two years or less than 180 days, or, in addition to confinement, a fine not to exceed $10,000.
Assuming that sentencing patterns and release policies not addressed in this bill remain constant, the probable impact of implementing the provisions of the bill during each of the first five years following passage, in terms of daily demand upon the adult corrections agencies, is estimated as follows:
Fiscal Year
Increase In Felony Community Supervision Population
Increase In Demand For State Jail Capacity
2008
31
33
2009
178
178
2010
335
211
2011
465
212
2012
518
219
Source Agencies:
212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council, 405 Department of Public Safety, 696 Department of Criminal Justice