LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 81ST LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

April 15, 2009

TO:	Honorable Garnet Coleman, Chair, House Committee on County Affairs
FROM:	John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB2246 by Turner, Sylvester (Relating to the ratio of correctional officers to prisoners in a county jail.), As Introduced

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would add Section 351.005 to the Local Government Code to require a sheriff's office to ensure a certain level of staffing in a county jail that houses 10 or more prisoners. The commissioners court of each applicable county would be required to provide the sheriff's office with sufficient resources to ensure the required staffing levels are met.

The Commission on Jail Standards reports that the ratio of correctional officers to inmates is currently mandated in Texas Administrative Code Title 37 Chapter 9 Rule 275.4; therefore, the agency does not anticipate any significant fiscal impact to the agency or to units of local government as a result of provisions in the bill.

Local Government Impact

No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated unless a county jail is not meeting these requirements. Costs would then depend on how many new staff must be hired.

Source Agencies:

409 Commission on Jail Standards

LBB Staff:

JOB, DB