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:	HB2344 by Zedler (Relating to prosecution of and punishment for the offense of smuggling of persons.), As Introduced

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would amend the Penal Code as it relates to the prosecution of and punishment for the offense of smuggling of persons.  Under the provisions of the bill, the punishment for smuggling of persons would begin at the state jail felony level with the level of punishment increasing in severity based on the number of people transported. Under current statute, smuggling of persons is punishable as a state jail felony and provides for enhancement to a third degree felony if certain conditions are met. 

 
Enhancing the penalty for any criminal offenses is expected to result in increased demands upon the correctional resources of counties or of the state due to longer terms of probation, or longer terms of confinement in county jail, state jail, or prison. 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, ESi, GG, LM