LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
 
CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT STATEMENT
 
80TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
 
March 1, 2007

TO:
Honorable Jeff Wentworth, Chair, Senate Committee on Jurisprudence
 
FROM:
John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
 
IN RE:
SB47 by Nelson (Relating to certain requirements relating to an application for a marriage license and an affidavit of an absent applicant for a marriage license and to the maintenance of marriage and divorce indexes by the bureau of vital statistics; providing penalties.), As Introduced

The provision of the bill that is the subject of this analysis would amend the Penal Code by making the provision of certain false information related to marriage licenses subject to prosecution for the offense of aggravated perjury.  The offense of aggravated perjury is punishable as a felony of the third degree.  
 
A third degree felony is punishable by imprisonment in the institutional division for any term of not more than ten years or less than two years, or, in addition to imprisonment, a fine not to exceed $10,000. 
                       
Increasing the penalty for any criminal offense is expected to result in increased demands upon the correctional resources of counties or of the State due to longer terms of probation or longer terms of confinement in county jails or prison.  In the case of this bill, the increased workload and demand for resources would probably not be substantial.


Source Agencies:
LBB Staff:
JOB, GG