Honorable Joe Moody, Chair, House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB1667 by Meyer (Relating to increasing the punishment for the offense of 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 as it relates to the punishment for the offense of promotion of prostitution. Under the provisions of the bill, the offense of promotion of prostitution would be increased from a Class A Misdemeanor to a state jail felony and promotion of prostitution with previous convictions would be increased from a state jail to a third degree felony.
A third degree felony is punishable by confinement in prison for a term from 2 to 10 years and a state jail felony is punishable by confinement in a state jail for a term from 180 days to 2 years or Class A Misdemeanor punishment. In addition to confinement, all felony level offenses are subject to an optional fine not to exceed $10,000. A Class A Misdemeanor is punishable by confinement in a county jail for a term not to exceed 1 year, and, in addition to confinement, an optional fine not to exceed $4,000.
Increasing the penalty for any criminal offense is expected to result in greater 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, 26 individuals were arrested and fewer than 10 were placed under misdemeanor community supervision for the offense of promotion of prostitution. Additionally, in fiscal year 2016, fewer than 10 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 promotion of prostitution with previous convictions. 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.