LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 82ND LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

May 19, 2011

TO:	Honorable Pete Gallego, Chair, House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence
FROM:	John S O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	SB1616 by West (Relating to the collection, storage, preservation, analysis, retrieval, and destruction of biological evidence.), Committee Report 2nd House, As Amended

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would amend the Code of Criminal Procedure to provide certain guidelines and require the Department of Public Safety (DPS) to adopt rules regarding the collection, storage, preservation, and retrieval of biological evidence. These guidelines and rules would apply to certain governmental or public entities and individuals charged with the collection, storage, preservation, or retrieval of biological evidence. The bill would take effect immediately upon a two-thirds vote of all the members in each house. Otherwise, the bill would take effect September 1, 2011. This analysis assumes DPS could implement the provisions of the bill within existing resources.

Local Government Impact

Harris County reported no significant fiscal impact associated with the provisions of the bill as engrossed.

According to Texas Association of Counties, Travis County reported that costs would vary depending on the standards adopted for storing and handling evidence; however, costs are not anticipated to be significant.

Source Agencies:

405 Department of Public Safety

LBB Staff:

JOB, ESi, KKR