LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
 
CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT STATEMENT
 
80TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
 
April 20, 2007

TO:
Honorable Aaron Pena, Chair, House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence
 
FROM:
John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
 
IN RE:
HB3370 by Thompson (Relating to the prosecution and punishment of the offense of trafficking of persons and a report concerning the offense. ), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted

The bill would amend the Penal Code by broadening the definition of forced labor or services as it relates to the offense of trafficking of persons.  The bill would also broaden the definition of traffic to include obtaining another person for transport by any means.

 

The bill would amend the Penal Code by including in the offense of trafficking of persons: 1) trafficking another person with the knowledge the trafficked person will engage in forced labor or services or conduct that constitutes public indecency and 2) intentionally or knowingly benefiting from a venture that involves forced labor or services or conduct that constitutes public indecency.  The bill would also amend the offense of tracking of persons by changing the age of the person trafficked from 14 years of age to 18 years of age for application of the felony of the first degree punishment.

 

In fiscal year 2006, less than ten offenders were admitted to prison and no one was released from prison for felony trafficking of persons.  Less than ten offenders were placed on probation for felony trafficking of persons in fiscal year 2005.  Assuming the same number of offenders in future years, implementation of the provision of the bill is not expected to have a significant impact on criminal justice populations.


Source Agencies:
LBB Staff:
JOB, GG, TM