Honorable Donna Campbell, Chair, Senate Committee on Veteran Affairs & Military Installations
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
SB1464 by Lucio (Relating to the creation of the transnational and organized crime division within the office of the attorney general.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted
Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for SB1464, Committee Report 1st House, Substituted: a negative impact of ($1,693,183) 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
($959,403)
2017
($733,780)
2018
($733,780)
2019
($733,780)
2020
($733,780)
Fiscal Year
Probable Savings/(Cost) from General Revenue Fund 1
Change in Number of State Employees from FY 2015
2016
($959,403)
7.0
2017
($733,780)
7.0
2018
($733,780)
7.0
2019
($733,780)
7.0
2020
($733,780)
7.0
Fiscal Analysis
The bill would amend the Government Code to establish a Transnational and Organized Crime Division within the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) to provide prosecutorial and investigative assistance to certain law enforcement agencies and prosecutors. Additionally, the bill would direct the Transnational and Organized Crime Division to develop certain assistance initiatives.
Under the bill provisions, the OAG indicated the fiscal impact would be $959,403 in fiscal year 2016 and $733,780 each fiscal year from 2017-2020. Costs include salaries for 7.0 FTEs, general operating, travel, capital equipment, and benefits.
The bill would take effect on September 1, 2015 and the OAG would be required to establish the Transnational and Organized Crime Division no later than December 1, 2015.
Methodology
Currently, the OAG provides prosecutorial and investigative assistance to local and state agencies in Texas. Under the bill provisions, the Criminal Prosecutions Division within the OAG estimates twenty additional cases each fiscal year related to human trafficking, organized crime, and border security. The Human Trafficking Unit estimates an additional four to six operations related to human trafficking, organized crime, and border security.
The OAG estimates the bill provisions would require one Assistant Attorney General III (1.0 FTE), one Assistant Attorney General V (1.0 FTE), one Legal Assistant III (1.0 FTE), three Investigator V (3.0 FTEs), and one Information Specialist III (1.0 FTE) with a combined fiscal year cost of $613,302 for salaries ($489,099) and related benefits ($155,203) related to expanded prosecutorial and investigative assistance for border security, organized crime, and human trafficking.
The additional investigators would be commissioned peace officers and require specialized equipment such as weapons, radios, safety equipment, and vehicles. The OAG estimates travel associated with the bill provisions would be greater than average due to potential investigations and prosecution assistance. Additionally, the OAG estimates they would not be able house the additional personnel in existing office space and would be required to lease space.
Technology
There would be a technology impact related to computer hardware, software, telecommunications equipment, and network storage estimated to be $35,905 in fiscal year 2016 and $16,380 in subsequent years.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.