LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 82ND LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

March 28, 2011

TO:	Honorable John Carona, Chair, Senate Committee on Business & Commerce
FROM:	John S O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	SB1450 by Zaffirini (Relating to the regulation of crafted precious metal dealers; providing a criminal penalty.), As Introduced

No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would amend the Local Government Code to authorize a Type A General Law municipality to license, tax, suppress, prevent, or otherwise regulate a cash-for-gold establishment.

The bill would amend the Occupations Code to require a crafted precious metal dealer to conduct a criminal background check on an applicant for employment with the dealer and to not employ a person convicted of a felony offense or theft. A dealer who violates this section would commit a Class B misdemeanor. A dealer also would be required to wait 22 days after filing a report on purchased crafted precious metals before the dealer can melt, deface, alter, or dispose of the crafted precious metal.
 
A Class B misdemeanor is punishable by a fine of not more than $2,000, confinement in jail for a term not to exceed 180 days, or both.

Local Government Impact

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

Source Agencies:

LBB Staff:

JOB, AG, TP