LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 83RD LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

February 25, 2013

TO:	Honorable Abel Herrero, Chair, House Committee On Criminal Jurisprudence
FROM:	Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB61 by Guillen (Relating to the punishment for the offense of arson.), As Introduced

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would amend the Penal Code as it relates to the punishment for the offense of arson.  Under the provisions of the bill, the punishment for arson would be enhanced from a second degree felony to a first degree felony if the arson involved property located in certain agricultural facilities or in a state park. 

 

This bill increases the penalty for arson.  Increasing the penalty for any criminal offense is expected to increase demands on state and/or county correctional agency resources due to longer terms of community supervision, county jail confinement, state correctional institution confinement, and/or parole. However, in the case of this bill, the Legislative Budget Board assumes the number of offenders supervised or incarcerated under this statute would not significantly impact state correctional agencies' workload and programs or the demand for their resources and services.

 

The bill would take effect on September 1, 2013, and only apply to offenses committed on or after that date.

Local Government Impact

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

Source Agencies:

LBB Staff:

UP, ESi, GG, JPo