Honorable Joe Moody, Chair, House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB2529 by Meyer (Relating to a presumption that certain conduct constitutes force, fraud, or coercion for purposes of the offense of trafficking of persons.), As Introduced
The provisions of the bill subject to this analysis amend the Penal Code as it relates to the offense of trafficking of persons. The bill would create a rebuttable presumption to establish that force, fraud, or coercion was used in the offense of trafficking of persons. Under current statute, this offense is punishable as a second degree felony.
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.
Establishing a presumption for any criminal offense is expected to result in an increase in the demands on the correctional resources of the counties or of the State due to a potential increase in the number of individuals sentenced to a term of supervision in the community or a term of confinement within state correctional institutions. In fiscal year 2016, fewer than 10 individuals were arrested, fewer than 10 were placed under felony community supervision, and fewer than 10 were admitted into state correctional institutions for trafficking of persons. 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.