LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 85TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

March 21, 2017

TO:	Honorable Byron Cook, Chair, House Committee on State Affairs
FROM:	Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB29 by Thompson, Senfronia (Relating to prostitution and the trafficking of persons, civil racketeering related to trafficking, the prosecution of and punishment for certain sexual offenses and offenses involving or related to trafficking, reimbursement of certain costs for criminal victims who are children, and the release and reporting of certain information relating to a child; increasing a criminal penalty; creating a criminal offense.), As Introduced

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would amend various codes as they relate to human trafficking and crimes of public indecency, such as prostitution.

The Comptroller of Public Accounts indicates that while the bill would establish a new finable misdemeanor offense, the amount of revenue collected as a result of this offense cannot be determined. The Office of Court Administration indicates that while the bill would establish new procedures governing enforcement action and expand the scope of existing criminal offenses, any increased workload would likely be absorbed by existing resources. This analysis assumes the provisions of the bill addressing felony sanctions for criminal offenses would not result in a significant impact on state correctional agencies. 

The bill would take effect September 1, 2017.

Local Government Impact

The bill modifies certain misdemeanor offenses. Costs associated with enforcement and prosecution could likely be absorbed within existing resources. Revenue gain from fines imposed and collected is not anticipated to have a significant fiscal implication. According to the Texas Association of Counties, the fiscal impact to counties to implement the provisions of the bill is not anticipated to be significant.

Source Agencies:

212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council, 302 Office of the Attorney General, 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts, 307 Secretary of State, 320 Texas Workforce Commission, 405 Department of Public Safety, 452 Department of Licensing and Regulation, 696 Department of Criminal Justice, 781 Higher Education Coordinating Board

LBB Staff:

UP, AG, JJ, AKU, JSm, ASa, GDz, JGA