| TO: | Honorable John Carona, Chair, Senate Committee on Business & Commerce |
| FROM: | Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board |
| IN RE: | HB1305 by Sheets (Relating to the criminal penalty for acting as an agent after suspension or revocation of the agent's license.), As Engrossed |
The bill would amend the Insurance Code as it relates to the punishment for acting as an agent after suspension or revocation of the agent's license. Under the provisions of the bill, the punishment for this offense would be increased from a fine not to exceed $5,000 and imprisonment of not more than two years to a third degree felony. The bill would take effect on September 1, 2013, and only applies to offenses committed on or after that date.
A third-degree felony 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.
The bill would increase the penalty for acting as an agent after suspension or revocation of the agent's license. Increasing the penalty for any criminal offense is expected to increase demands on state and/or county correctional agency resources due to longer terms of community supervision, county jail confinement, state correctional institution confinement, and/or parole. However, in the case of the bill, it is assumed that the number of offenders supervised or incarcerated under this statute would not significantly impact state correctional agencies' workload and programs. In fiscal year 2012, there were no arrests, probation placements, or incarcerations for this offense.
| Source Agencies: |
| LBB Staff: | UP, ESi
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