LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
 
FISCAL NOTE, 85TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
 
April 26, 2017

TO:
Honorable Joe Moody, Chair, House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence
 
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
 
IN RE:
HB2960 by Parker (relating to the prosecution and punishment of certain trafficking and sexual offenses; increasing a criminal penalty.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would amend the Penal Code as it relates to certain trafficking and sexual offenses. Under the provisions of the bill, a person commits an offense if the person engages in prohibited sexual behavior regardless of whether the actor knows the age of the victim at the time of the offense. The bill would enhance certain prostitution offenses from a Class A misdemeanor to a state jail felony, from a state jail felony to a third degree felony, or from a second degree felony to a first degree felony depending on the circumstances of the offense. The bill would also expand the offenses of aggravated sexual assault, promotion of prostitution, and aggravated promotion of prostitution.
 
The Office of Court Administration and the Texas Department of Criminal do not anticipate a significant fiscal impact as a result of implementing the provisions of the bill.
 
This analysis assumes the provisions of the bill addressing felony sanctions would not result in a significant impact on the demand for state correctional resources. The bill would take effect on September 1, 2017 and apply only to an offense committed on or after the effective date of the Act.

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. A Class B misdemeanor is punishable by a fine of not more than $2,000, confinement in jail for a term not to exceed 180 days, 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, 696 Department of Criminal Justice
LBB Staff:
UP, KJo, LM, JGA