LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
 
CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT STATEMENT
 
81ST LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
 
March 13, 2009

TO:
Honorable John Whitmire, Chair, Senate Committee on Criminal Justice
 
FROM:
John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
 
IN RE:
SB554 by Whitmire (Relating to conduct constituting the offense of dog fighting and to the criminal and civil consequences of committing that offense.), As Introduced

The bill would amend the Penal Code to include owning or possessing dog-fighting equipment with intent to train a dog for dog fighting or in furtherance of dog fighting to offenses punishable as a Class A misdemeanor.  The bill would amend the Penal Code to include offenses relating to dog fighting as punishable as engaging in organized criminal activity.  The engaging in organized criminal activity provision increases the punishment of certain offenses to the next higher category. 

Increasing the types of behavior punishable and broadening the definition of the types of behavior punishable as engaging in organized criminal activity is expected to result in increased demands upon the correctional resources of counties or of the State due to an increase in offenses.  However, it is assumed the number of persons convicted under this statute would not result in a significant impact on programs and workload of state corrections agencies or on the demand for resources and services of those agencies.



Source Agencies:
LBB Staff:
JOB, GG, TMP