LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 85TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

April 17, 2017

TO:	Honorable John Frullo, Chair, House Committee on Culture, Recreation & Tourism
FROM:	Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB2274 by Guillen (Relating to registration and regulation of dangerous wild animals; providing penalties, creating a criminal offense, and authorizing a fee.), As Introduced

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would amend the Health and Safety Code and Penal Code prohibiting certain individuals from owning a dangerous wild animal after September 1, 2017. The bill would allow the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) to charge a registration fee to individuals who own a dangerous wild animal.  A person who violates the provisions of the bill could be charged with a Class A misdemeanor and/or a civil penalty.

On January 1, 2018 the bill would repeal Subchapter E, Chapter 822 of the Health and Safety Code.

The bill would take effect September 1, 2017.

According to the Department of State Health Services no significant fiscal impact to the state is anticipated.

Local Government Impact

A person who violates the provisions of the bill would be liable to the county in which the violation occurred of a civil penalty between $200-$2,000 for each animal each day in which there is a violation. The revenue gain imposed by the civil penalty is not anticipated to have a significant fiscal 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:

304 Comptroller of Public Accounts, 529 Health and Human Services Commission, 537 State Health Services, Department of

LBB Staff:

UP, SZ, GG, BM, RD, JGA