LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 83RD LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

April 15, 2013

TO:	Honorable Tryon D. Lewis, Chair, House Committee on Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence
FROM:	Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB3748 by Farrar (Relating to the costs associated with proceedings regarding cruelly treated animals; authorizing fees and costs.), As Introduced

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would amend the Health and Safety Code to specify that upon certain findings of animal cruelty, a court may order the owner to pay county or municipality attorney's fees and court costs relating to the prosecution.

 

The Office of Court Administration does not anticipate any significant fiscal impact to the court system resulting from the bill. The change in law would apply only to related proceedings commencing on or after the bill's effective date. The bill would take effect September 1, 2013.

Local Government Impact

There would be a savings to counties and municipalities that would vary depending on the number of applicable cases in which the animal's owner is required to pay; however, fiscal impact is not anticipated to be significant.

Source Agencies:

212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council, 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts

LBB Staff:

UP, CL, AM, KKR