Honorable Phil King, Chair, House Committee on Homeland Security & Public Safety
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB2034 by Blanco (Relating to requiring a national instant criminal background check in connection with certain firearm sales; creating an offense.), As Introduced
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend the Government Code to prohibit a person from selling a firearm to another person over the internet, providing certain exceptions. The bill would require a licensed firearms dealer who receives a firearm to conduct a national instant criminal background check in the manner required by 18 U.S.C. Section 922 to verify that the person to whom the firearm is being sold may lawfully possess a firearm. The provisions of the bill would create a Class A misdemeanor; the Comptroller of Public Accounts reports it is unknown if any state revenue implications would result from the creation of a new offense.
The Office of Court Administration and the Department of Public Safety report that the costs and duties required to implement the provisions of the bill could be absorbed within existing resources.
This analysis assumes the provisions of the bill addressing criminal offenses would not result in a significant impact on state correctional agencies.
The bill would take effect September 1, 2017.
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 within existing resources. Revenue gain from fines imposed and collected is not anticipated to have a significant fiscal implication.
Source Agencies:
212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council, 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts, 405 Department of Public Safety