Honorable John Whitmire, Chair, Senate Committee on Criminal Justice
FROM:
John McGeady, Assistant Director Sarah Keyton, Assistant Director Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB2524 by Anderson, Charles "Doc" (Relating to the prosecution of the criminal offense of theft of service.), As Engrossed
The probable fiscal impact of implementing the bill is indeterminate due to a lack of information or data available related to the type of theft of service or information specifying the type or conditions of the written rental agreements. These data are necessary to determine the number of written rental agreements that would no longer be included and the corresponding impact not including them would have on the criminal justice system.
The bill would amend the Penal Code as it relates to theft of service. Under the provisions of the bill, in certain circumstances, both the amount of time an actor has to return property held under a rental agreement before intent to avoid payment is presumed, as well as the amount of time until an actor is presumed to have received notification to pay, would be reduced and the definition written rental agreement would be clarified. Whether the bill would have a significant impact fiscal impact is indeterminate due to a lack of statewide information on the type and conditions of written rental agreements.
Local Government Impact
The fiscal implications of the bill cannot be determined at this time.