Honorable John Whitmire, Chair, Senate Committee on Criminal Justice
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB3184 by McClendon (Relating to the establishment, operation, and funding of victim-offender mediation programs; authorizing fees.), As Engrossed
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would allow for the establishment, operation and funding of pretrial victim-offender mediation programs. The bill would permit a commissioners court or a governing body of a municipality in coordination with the attorney representing the state to adopt administrative and local rules necessary to implement or operate the program. The pretrial victim-offender mediation program would be established by the commissioners court of a county or governing body of a municipality and made available to persons who have been arrested for or charged with a misdemeanor under Penal Code, Title 7, and have not been previously convicted of a felony or a misdemeanor other than a misdemeanor traffic violation punishable by fine only.
Local Government Impact
The bill would require collection of a program participation fee not to exceed $500 from defendants in the program. The $500 program fee is designated to cover many of the costs of the program. The bill would also require payment of $15 in court costs by defendants who successfully complete the program.
There could be costs to a local entity that chose to establish a victim-offender mediation program; including additional staff, training costs and technical support. However, it is assumed that a local entity would establish a victim-offender mediation program only if sufficient funds were available or it would not result in a negative fiscal impact; therefore, no significant fiscal impact is anticipated.
Source Agencies:
212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council, 644 Juvenile Justice Department, 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts