LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 83RD LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

April 1, 2013

TO:	Honorable John Whitmire, Chair, Senate Committee on Criminal Justice
FROM:	Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	SB263 by Huffman (Relating to the designation of certain synthetic cannabinoids as controlled substances and controlled substance analogues under the Texas Controlled Substances Act.), As Introduced

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would amend the Health and Safety Code as it relates to the designation of certain synthetic cannabinoids as controlled substances and controlled substance analogues under the Texas Controlled Substances Act. Under the provisions of the bill, Penalty Group 2-A (e.g. synthetic marihuana) of the Texas Controlled Substances Act would be updated to include the five cannabinoids and cannabicyclohexanol placed on the federal government's Controlled Substance Schedule 1 list in March 2011. The bill would take effect on September 1, 2013.

 
This analysis assumes the Department of Public Safety could implement the provisions of the bill within existing appropriations. For this analysis, it is assumed the number of offenders convicted under these statutes 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:

405 Department of Public Safety

LBB Staff:

UP, LM, ESi, GG