Honorable Joe Moody, Chair, House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB1666 by Meyer (Relating to increasing the punishment for the offense of aggravated promotion of prostitution.), As Introduced
The provisions of the bill addressing felony sanctions are the subject of this analysis. The bill would amend the Penal Code by increasing the punishment for the offense of aggravated promotion of prostitution. Under the provisions of the bill, aggravated promotion of prostitution would be punishable as a second degree felony or a first degree felony depending on the specific circumstances of the offense.
A first degree felony is punishable by confinement in prison for a term from 5 to 99 years and a second degree felony is punishable by confinement in prison for a term from 2 to 20 years. In addition to confinement, all felony level offenses are subject to an optional fine not to exceed $10,000.
Increasing the penalty for any criminal offense is expected to result in increased demands upon the correctional resources of counties or of the State due to longer terms of supervision in the community, longer terms of confinement in state correctional institutions, and additional individuals under parole supervision. In fiscal year 2016, 30 individuals were arrested, fewer than 10 were placed under felony community supervision, and fewer than 10 were admitted into state correctional institutions for the offense of aggravated promotion of prostitution. 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.