| TO: | Honorable Tommy Williams, Chair, Senate Committee on Transportation & Homeland Security |
| FROM: | John S O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board |
| IN RE: | HB777 by Gonzalez, Naomi (Relating to court costs imposed on conviction and deposited to the appropriate courthouse security fund or court building security fund.), As Engrossed |
The bill would amend the Code of Criminal Procedure to increase the court costs imposed on conviction of felony and misdemeanor offenses to be deposited into a courthouse or court building security fund by an amount of $5. All of the revenue received from this court cost is retained by local governments; therefore, the bill would have no fiscal impact on the State.
There would be a revenue gain from an increase in court cost fees, but the amounts would vary depending upon the number of convictions in a locality.
Three counties and three cities reported information to the Comptroller of Public Accounts that there would be no new revenue generated in fiscal year (FY) 2011 since the new court costs would not take effect until January 1, 2012. In addition, all three counties, the city of Lufkin, and the city of Lamesa FY 2012 begins October 1 and the net revenue/costs estimated for FY 2012 has been prorated. The city of El Paso's FY begins on September 1.
Travis County reported the new fee schedule would not require any technology or setup changes and estimated the additional revenue would be $1,208,000 combined for the five-year period covering FY 2012 to FY 2016.
Bell County reported that only data entry changes would be required to reflect the new fees and estimated the additional revenue would be $612,252 combined for the five-year period covering FY 2012 to FY 2016.
Brown County reported the new fee schedule would not require any technology or setup changes and only data entry manipulations; and estimated the additional revenue would be $127,740 combined for the five-year period covering FY 2012 to FY 2016.
The City of El Paso reported that only data entry changes would be required to reflect the new fees and estimated the additional revenue would be $2,333,333 combined for the five-year period covering FY 2012 to FY 2016.
The City of Lufkin reported that only data entry changes would be required to reflect the new fees and estimated the additional revenue would be $189,750 combined for the five-year period covering FY 2012 to FY 2016.
The City of Lamesa reported that only data entry changes would be required to reflect the new fees and estimated the additional revenue would be $115,000 combined for the five-year period covering FY 2012 to FY 2016.
| Source Agencies: | 212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council, 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts
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| LBB Staff: | JOB, KJG, ESi, TP
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