Honorable Joe Moody, Chair, House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB3655 by Herrero (Relating to grants awarded to reimburse counties for the cost of monitoring defendants and victims in criminal cases involving family violence.), As Introduced
Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB3655, As Introduced: a negative impact of ($2,800,000) through the biennium ending August 31, 2019.
The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill.
Fiscal Year
Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds
2018
($1,400,000)
2019
($1,400,000)
2020
($1,400,000)
2021
($1,400,000)
2022
($1,400,000)
Fiscal Year
Probable Savings/(Cost) from General Revenue Fund 1
2018
($1,400,000)
2019
($1,400,000)
2020
($1,400,000)
2021
($1,400,000)
2022
($1,400,000)
Fiscal Analysis
The bill would amend Government Code relating to grants awarded to reimburse counties for the cost of monitoring defendants and victims in criminal cases involving family violence. The bill would require the Criminal Justice Division in the Trusteed Programs Within the Office of the Governor to establish program guidelines and provide grants to reimburse counties who participate in certain global positioning monitoring systems. The bill would require a biennial report on the grant program.
The bill would take effect immediately upon receiving two-thirds majority vote in each house. Otherwise, the bill would take effect September 1, 2017.
Methodology
According to the Office of Court Administration's fiscal year 2016 Annual Statistical Report for the Texas Judiciary, there were 3,810 family violence cases filed for indictment in fiscal year 2016. This analysis estimates that approximately 500 cases would rise to level that GPS monitoring would be warranted. The estimate below assumes all cases would be addressed by the grant program.
The Office of the Governor estimates daily costs for monitoring and supervision of the GPS Device is $10.00 ($10.00 x 500 cases = $5,000/day). The Office of the Governor assumes each case will require 90 days of monitoring (90 days x $5,000/day = $450,000). In addition, at an average of 50 cases per probation officer, for the 381 cases the costs associated with 10 FTEs (8 FTEs x $75,000 salary fringe = $750,000) would be eligible grants under this bill. According to the Office of the Governor, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice Parole Division reports the average cost of each GPS unit is approximately $400 ($400 x 500 cases = $200,000). The total cost for the unit and monitoring would be $1,400,000 per fiscal year.
To the extent that the grant program is not structured to address all applicable cases, costs would be reduced commensurately.
This analysis assumes administrative duties and responsibilities associated with implementing the provisions of the bill could be accomplished utilizing existing resources in the Trusteed Programs Within the Office of the Governor
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
Source Agencies:
300 Trusteed Programs Within the Office of the Governor