Honorable Nicole Collier, Chair, House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence
FROM:
John McGeady, Assistant Director Sarah Keyton, Assistant Director Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB1499 by Metcalf (relating to authorizing the comptroller to release a reported owner’s unclaimed property to the owner’s crime victim in certain circumstances.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend the Government and Property Codes, regarding unclaimed property claims filed on behalf of crime victims.
The bill would amend Chapter 493 of the Government Code, regarding the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ), to add new Section 493.032 to require TDCJ to file a claim for unclaimed property on behalf of a victim of a criminal offense if the reported owner of the unclaimed property was finally convicted of a criminal offense in Texas, owes restitution to the victim, and is incarcerated in state custody on the date the claim is submitted. The bill would require TDCJ to determine annually from the Comptroller's list of owners of unclaimed property the claims for which TDCJ is required to submit on behalf of crime victims.
The bill would amend Section 74.501 of the Property Code, regarding unclaimed property and claims filed with the Comptroller's Office, to allow the Comptroller to approve a claim filed by TDCJ on behalf of a victim of a criminal offense.
Local Government Impact
No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
Source Agencies:
304 Comptroller of Public Accounts, 696 Department of Criminal Justice