LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 83RD LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

April 15, 2013

TO:	Honorable Abel Herrero, Chair, House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence
FROM:	Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB279 by Lucio III (Relating to the penalty for theft of a pet.), As Introduced

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would amend the Penal Code by adding pets to the list of items for which theft is punishable as a state jail felony.  Under current statute, theft is punishable at all offense levels with the punishment level based on the type and value of property stolen.  At present, theft does not have specific provisions related to pets. The bill would take effect on September 1, 2013 and apply to offenses committed on or after that date. 
 
For this analysis, it is assumed the number of offenders convicted under this statute would not result in a significant impact on the programs and workload of state corrections agencies or on the demand for resources and services of those agencies.

Local Government Impact

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

Source Agencies:

LBB Staff:

UP, LM, ESi, GG