Honorable Abel Herrero, Chair, House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB1812 by Alvarado (relating to grants awarded to reimburse counties for the cost of monitoring defendants and victims in criminal cases involving family violence.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted
Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB1812, Committee Report 1st House, Substituted: a negative impact of ($2,210,232) through the biennium ending August 31, 2017.
The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill.
Fiscal Year
Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds
2016
($1,105,116)
2017
($1,105,116)
2018
($1,105,116)
2019
($1,105,116)
2020
($1,105,116)
Fiscal Year
Probable Savings/(Cost) from General Revenue Fund 1
2016
($1,105,116)
2017
($1,105,116)
2018
($1,105,116)
2019
($1,105,116)
2020
($1,105,116)
Fiscal Analysis
The bill would amend Government Code to create a grant program for monitoring defendants and victims in family violence cases. The bill would require the Criminal Justice Division in the Trusteed Programs Within the Office of the Governor to establish program guidelines and provide grants to reimburse counties who participate in certain global positioning monitoring systems. The bill would require a biennial report on the grant program.
The bill would take effect immediately upon receiving two-thirds majority vote in each house. Otherwise, the bill would take effect September 1, 2015.
Methodology
According to the Office of Court Administration's Fiscal Year 2013 Annual Statistical Report for the Texas Judiciary, there were 7,395 family violence cases filed for indictment in FY2013. Using that data, the Office of the Governor estimates five percent, approximately 370 cases, would rise to level that GPS monitoring would be warranted.
The Office of the Governor estimates daily costs for monitoring and supervision of the GPS Device is $16.52 ($16.52 x 370 cases = $6,112.40/day). The Office of the Governor assumes each case will require 90 days of monitoring (90 days x $6,112.40/day = $550,116). In addition, each GPS unit costs approximately $1,500 ($1,500 x 370 cases = $555,000). The total cost for the unit and monitoring would be $1,105,116 per fiscal year.
The Office of the Governor indicates that any costs associated with the administration of the program could be absorbed within existing resources.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.