Honorable Pete Gallego, Chair, House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence
FROM:
John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB3318 by Farrar (Relating to the punishment of certain parents for the murder of the parent's infant. ), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend the Penal Code relating to the punishment stage of a trial in which a defendant is guilty of causing the death of a child; the defendant may raise the issue of impairment under certain conditions. If the defendant proves the issue in the affirmative by a preponderance of the evidence, the offense would be punishable as a state jail felony. The bill would apply to a trial that commences on or after September 1, 2009.
It is estimated that implementation of the bill would not have a significant impact on the costs of state or local government.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.