LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 82ND LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

April 7, 2011

TO:	Honorable Garnet Coleman, Chair, House Committee on County Affairs
FROM:	John S O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB3788 by Marquez (Relating to the authority of a county civil service commission to administer oaths and issue subpoenas; providing a penalty.), As Introduced

No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would amend the Local Government Code to authorize a county civil service commission to administer oaths and issue subpoenas. The bill would create an offense for failing to appear as required by a subpoena. An offense would be punishable by a fine up to $1,000, confinement in a county jail for not more than 30 days, or both.

Local Government Impact

There could be additional costs to house inmates that fail to appear as required by a subpoena, but the amounts would vary depending on the number of applicable persons. According to the Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS), the average cost for an inmate in a county jail is $45 per day.

Based on the analysis of one larger county, there would be estimated costs of $45,000 to implement the provisions of the bill. The county also noted that while the costs are not significant, the impact operationally would be significant.

Costs associated with enforcement, prosecution and confinement could likely be absorbed within existing resources. Revenue gain from fines imposed and collected is not anticipated to have a significant fiscal implication.

Source Agencies:

LBB Staff:

JOB, KKR, TP