Honorable Joe Moody, Chair, House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB3819 by Howard (relating to the prosecution of the offense of improper contact with a victim and to providing certain rights to a victim of a criminal offense and the victim’s family regarding contact by an inmate or an inmate’s representative.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend sections of the Government Code, the Penal Code, and the Code of Criminal Procedure related to an offender's contact with certain victims of crime. The bill would require the Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) to document and submit violations to a parole panel when evaluating eligibility for parole. The bill would also require TDCJ to establish policies for prohibiting unwanted contact by defendants convicted of certain violent crimes and would expand the offense of improper conduct with certain victims. The Office of Court Administration, Board of Pardons and Paroles, and TDCJ anticipate any additional work resulting from the provisions of the bill could be reasonably absorbed within current resources. This analysis assumes the provisions of the bill addressing felony sanctions for criminal offenses would not result in a significant impact on state correctional agencies.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
Source Agencies:
212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council, 696 Department of Criminal Justice, 697 Board of Pardons and Paroles