LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 85TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

March 20, 2017

TO:	Honorable John T. Smithee, Chair, House Committee on Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence
FROM:	Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB748 by Farrar (Relating to certain costs associated with certain court proceedings for cruelly treated animals; authorizing fees and costs.), As Introduced

No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would amend the Health and Safety Code to specify that upon certain findings of animal cruelty, a court may order the owner to pay county or municipality attorney's fees and court costs relating to the prosecution.

According to the Comptroller of Public Accounts, there would be no revenue implications and no fiscal impact on the state or on the state's cash flow.

Local Government Impact

There would be a savings to counties and municipalities that would vary depending on the number of applicable cases in which the animal's owner is required to pay; however, the fiscal impact is not anticipated to be significant.

Source Agencies:

212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council, 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts

LBB Staff:

UP, LBO, GG, BM, FR, SD, EK, LCO, CL, AM, KKR