Honorable Tommy Williams, Chair, Senate Committee on Transportation & Homeland Security
FROM:
John S O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
SB1649 by Watson (Relating to a grant program to support the prosecution of certain crimes.), As Introduced
Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for SB1649, As Introduced: a negative impact of ($4,000,000) through the biennium ending August 31, 2013.
The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill.
Fiscal Year
Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds
2012
($2,000,000)
2013
($2,000,000)
2014
($2,000,000)
2015
($2,000,000)
2016
($2,000,000)
Fiscal Year
Probable Savings/(Cost) from General Revenue Fund 1
2012
($2,000,000)
2013
($2,000,000)
2014
($2,000,000)
2015
($2,000,000)
2016
($2,000,000)
Fiscal Analysis
The bill would amend the Government Code and require the Criminal Justice Division within the Trusteed Programs within the Office of the Governor to establish and administer a competitive grant program through which eligible prosecuting attorneys may apply for a grant to support the prosecution of border crimes. Funding for the border prosecution grants would be appropriated out of the General Revenue-Dedicated Fugitive Apprehension Account No. 5028. However, the Comptroller of Public Accounts has indicated that the General Revenue-Dedicated Fugitive Apprehension Account No. 5028 is a dormant account and is now considered to be General Revenue. Therefore, any appropriation out of that account would be considered General Revenue.
Methodology
The Office of the Governor indicates that the Criminal Justice Division would provide grants totaling $2,000,000 per fiscal year to local prosecuting attorneys. It is assumed that the cost for these grants would be appropriated out of the General Revenue Fund. It is also assumed that any additional costs associated with administering the grant program could be absorbed within existing resources.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
Source Agencies:
212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council, 301 Office of the Governor, 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts