Honorable John Whitmire, Chair, Senate Committee on Criminal Justice
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
SB1135 by Garcia (relating to civil and criminal liability for the unlawful disclosure or promotion of certain intimate visual material; creating an offense.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend the Civil Practice and Remedies Code and the Penal Code to create a civil and criminal liability for the disclosure or promotion of certain visual material. The bill would create a cause of action for damages, costs, and fees caused to a person depicted in intimate visual materials in violation of the new Penal Code provision. The bill would create a Class A misdemeanor offense for the intentional publication of intimate visual material, as described. The Office of Court Administration indicates that the bill provisions would not result in a significant fiscal implication to the court system.
Local Government Impact
A Class A misdemeanor is punishable by a fine of not more than $4,000, confinement in jail for a term not to exceed one year, or both. Costs associated with enforcement, prosecution, and confinement could likely be absorbed with existing resources. Revenue from fines imposed and collected is not anticipated to have a significant fiscal impact.
Source Agencies:
212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council