Honorable Joseph Pickett, Chair, House Committee on Homeland Security & Public Safety
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB3420 by Lavender (Relating to the carrying of firearms by certain off-duty employees of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice and the carrying of a handgun by a license holder in certain locations; authorizing a fee.), As Introduced
Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB3420, As Introduced: an impact of $0 through the biennium ending August 31, 2015.
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
2014
$0
2015
$0
2016
$0
2017
$0
2018
$0
Fiscal Year
Probable Revenue Gain from General Revenue Fund 1
Probable (Cost) from General Revenue Fund 1
2014
$198,750
($198,750)
2015
$198,750
($198,750)
2016
$198,750
($198,750)
2017
$198,750
($198,750)
2018
$198,750
($198,750)
Fiscal Analysis
The bill would amend the Government Code to require the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) to offer an annual educational program and firearms proficiency certificate for off duty firearms carry to TDCJ employees who are currently required to handle firearms while on duty. Under the provisions of the bill, TDCJ may require a TDCJ employee whto o participates in the firearms proficiency education program to pay a fee of not more than $30 for program participation and the issuance of the certificate of firearms proficiency. A TDCJ employee participating in the program must supply the firearm holster and any ammunition to be used in the program.
The bill would also amend the Penal Code to eliminate the offense of unlawful carrying of a handgun by a concealed handgun license holder on the premises of a place of religious worship. The bill also exempts TDCJ employees with a certificate of firearms proficiency from the offenses of carrying a weapon in places that are prohibited and considered unlawfully carrying a weapon. It is assumed that the change in number of offenders incarcerated or supervised as a result of these provisions of the bill would not result in a significant impact to state correctional agency resources.
The bill would take effect September 1, 2013.
Methodology
TDCJ has determined that the cost to offer the firearms proficiency education program annually would be sufficiently covered by the authorized program participation fee. TDCJ estimates the number of TDCJ employees that are currently required annually to complete TDCJ firearms proficiency training for on duty assignments is 26,500. Since the number of employees who would voluntarily participate in the the firearms proficiency education program is indeterminate, it is assumed that 25 percent (6,625) of the identified 26,500 TDCJ employees would complete the firearms proficiency education program. Assuming a fee of $30 per program participant, the total estimated annual revenue would be $198,750. It is assumed that TDCJ employees choosing to participate in the program would complete the program annually to maintain the certificate of firearms proficiency.
Technology
No significant impact to technology is anticipated.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
Source Agencies:
304 Comptroller of Public Accounts, 696 Department of Criminal Justice