Honorable Abel Herrero, Chair, House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB4007 by Guillen (Relating to procedures applicable to a person released on parole or to mandatory supervision and charged with certain new offenses or an administrative violation of a condition of release.), As Introduced
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend the Government Code to allow a magistrate, under certain conditions, to release on bond a person who has been returned to custody for a hearing on a charge of parole violation, ineligible release, or violation of a condition of mandatory supervision. The bill would also provide that the county be compensated by the state for the costs of confinement and medical needs of the person held in custody awaiting the disposition of the charges. Reimbursement would be for all medical costs and for the cost of confinement incurred by the county after the 16th day the person is confined in county jail.
Based on the analysis of the Office of Court Administration, Department of Criminal Justice, and Board of Pardons and Paroles, duties and responsibilities associated with implementing the provisions of the bill could be accomplished by utilizing existing resources.
Local Government Impact
The Office of Court Administration estimates there may be a positive fiscal impact to the county depending on the number of inmates in a county jail currently held for these reasons; however, no significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
According to the Texas Commission on Jail Standards, the average cost for an inmate in a county jail is $60.01 per day.
Harris County estimates that there would be a $2,900,000 savings in fiscal year 2016 as the result of a reduced county jail population.
Source Agencies:
212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council, 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts, 696 Department of Criminal Justice, 697 Board of Pardons and Paroles