Honorable Abel Herrero, Chair, House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
SB187 by Huffman (Relating to the punishment for a capital felony committed by an individual younger than 18 years of age.), As Engrossed
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend the Penal Code as it relates to the punishment for a capital felony committed by an individual younger than 18 years of age. Under the provisions of the bill, any individual convicted of a capital felony in which the state does not seek the death penalty and who was 17 years old or less at the time of the offense shall be punished by life in prison with the possibility of parole.
The bill decreases the penalty for certain offenders convicted of capital offenses. Decreasing the penalty for any criminal offense is expected to decrease demands on state correctional agency resources due to shorter terms of state correctional institution confinement. In the case of the bill, it is assumed that the number of offenders incarcerated under this statute would not significantly impact state correctional agencies' workload and programs. The bill would take effect on September 1, 2013.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.