| TO: | Honorable David Dewhurst, Lieutenant Governor, Senate |
| FROM: | John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board |
| IN RE: | SB1844 by Van de Putte (Relating to revenue received from the provision of pay telephone service to inmates confined in facilities operated by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.), As Passed 2nd House |
The bill would reenact the Government Code by requiring the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) to contract for seven years with a private vendor for all services related to installing, operating and maintaining a pay telephone service for eligible inmates confined in TDCJ operated facilities. Senate Bill 1580, Eightieth Legislature, Regular Session, 2007, amended the Government Code to provide for a transfer of half of all proceeds derived from pay telephone service for inmates to the Compensation to Victims of Crime Fund (Fund 0469) and the other half to the General Revenue Fund, except the first $10.0 million collected each year would be distributed to the Compensation to Victims Crime Fund (Fund 0469). The revenue from Senate Bill 1580 was not dedicated in the funds consolidation bill from the 80th Legislature. The fund, account, or revenue dedication included in Senate Bill 1844 would be subject to funds consolidation review by the current Legislature. Since the number of calls and the duration of calls are unknown, the fiscal impact of the bill cannot be determined.
| Source Agencies: | 302 Office of the Attorney General, 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts, 696 Department of Criminal Justice
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| LBB Staff: | JOB, TP, ESi, GG, SDO
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