LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 82ND LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

April 28, 2011

TO:	Honorable Pete Gallego, Chair, House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence
FROM:	John S O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB1856 by Woolley (Relating to the prosecution of and punishment for the offense of tampering with a witness.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would amend the Penal Code as it relates to the offense of tampering with a witness.  Under the provisions of the bill, tampering with a witness would be punishable as a third degree felony unless it is part of the prosecution of a criminal case.  As specified by the bill, the offense would be punishable as the most serious offense charged in the case.  If the most serious offense charged in the case is a capital felony then tampering with a witness would be punishable as a first degree felony. At present, tampering with a witness is a state jail felony.

The bill would take effect on September 1, 2011 and apply to offenses committed on or after that date.

For this analysis, it is assumed the number of offenders convicted under this statute would not result in a significant impact on the programs and workload of State corrections agencies or on the demand for resources and services of those agencies.

Local Government Impact

No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.

Source Agencies:

LBB Staff:

JOB, LM, ESi, GG