| TO: | Honorable Craig Estes, Chair, Senate Committee on Agriculture & Rural Affairs |
| FROM: | John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board |
| IN RE: | SB1132 by Hinojosa (Relating to the issuance and execution of agriculture warrants; creating an offense.), As Introduced |
The bill would provide the Department of Agriculture (TDA) the authority to seek an agriculture warrant with respect to a plant pest or plant disease.
TDA indicates that any costs associated with the bill could be absorbed within the agency's existing resources.
The bill would take effect September 1, 2009.
It is anticipated that costs associated with additional warrants to be issued by magistrates can be absorbed within existing resources. It is also anticipated that costs associated with accompanying a TDA employee in serving a warrant would not have a significant fiscal impact on a sheriff's or constable's office.
Regarding an offense of intentionally interfering with the execution of an agriculture warrant, no significant fiscal impact is anticipated. The punishment for a Class B misdemeanor is a fine not to exceed $2,000, confinement in jail for a term not to exceed 180 days, or both. The actual fiscal impact would vary by county and would depend on the number of offenses prosecuted and the punishment imposed.
| Source Agencies: | 551 Department of Agriculture
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| LBB Staff: | JOB, WK, AH, SD, DB
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