| TO: | Honorable Pete Gallego, Chair, House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence |
| FROM: | John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board |
| IN RE: | HB2126 by Kent (Relating to the prosecution and punishment of offenses involving graffiti.), As Introduced |
The bill would amend the Penal Code to reduce from less than $500 to less than $300 the maximum amount of pecuniary loss caused by a graffiti offense for the offense to be classified as a Class B misdemeanor. It would also change the amount of the minimum pecuniary loss caused by a graffiti offense to be classified as a Class A misdemeanor from more than $500 to more than $300.
A Class B misdemeanor is punishable by a fine not to exceed $2,000, confinement in jail for a term not to exceed 180 days, or both. A Class A misdemeanor is punishable by a fine not to exceed $4,000, confinement in jail for a term not to exceed one year, or both.
Changes in level of pecuniary loss is expected to increase the number of graffiti offenses classified as a Class B or Class A misdemeanor, which could result in some additional prosecutorial costs and jail costs; however, the higher fines that can be imposed under the higher misdemeanor levels would help offset those costs.
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
| Source Agencies: |
| LBB Staff: | JOB, ESi, DB
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