LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
 
CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT STATEMENT
 
83RD LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
 
May 15, 2013

TO:
Honorable John Whitmire, Chair, Senate Committee on Criminal Justice
 
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
 
IN RE:
HB705 by Howard (Relating to the definition of emergency services personnel for purposes of the enhanced penalty prescribed for an assault committed against a person providing services in that capacity.), As Engrossed

The bill would amend the Penal Code to include "emergency room personnel" as "emergency services personnel" for purposes of enhancing the punishment prescribed for the offense of assault. Under the provisions of the bill, assault would be enhanced to a felony of the third degree if the offense is committed against certain emergency room personnel providing services in that capacity. 

 
A felony of the third degree is punishable by confinement in prison for a term from 2 to 10 years and, in addition to confinement, an optional fine not to exceed $10,000.
 
Expanding the list of people for which the penalty for their assault is enhanced is expected to result in increased demands upon the correctional resources of counties and or of the State due to longer terms of probation, or longer terms of confinement in county jail, state jail or prison.  However, in the case of this bill, it is assumed that 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.



Source Agencies:
LBB Staff:
UP, ESi, LM, GG