Honorable Harold V. Dutton, Jr., Chair, House Committee on Juvenile Justice & Family Issues
FROM:
John McGeady, Assistant Director Sarah Keyton, Assistant Director Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB3257 by Raney (Relating to the criminal consequences of using or exhibiting an imitation firearm.), As Introduced
The fiscal impact of implementing the bill is indeterminate due to the lack of data necessary to determine the number of cases that would be prosecuted for offenses involving the use or exhibition of an imitation firearm. These data are necessary to estimate the fiscal impact of the bill's provisions.
The bill would amend various codes as they relate to the criminal consequences of using or exhibiting an imitation firearm. Under the provisions of the bill, offenses involving the use or exhibition of an imitation firearm would be punished in a similar manner to offenses involving the use or exhibition of other weapons. These offenses would be punished at multiple felony levels with the punishment level based on the specific circumstances of the offense. Expanding the list of behaviors for which a criminal penalty can be applied is expected to result in additional demands upon the correctional resources of counties or of the state due to an increase in individuals placed under community supervision or sentenced to a term of confinement within state correctional institutions. The bill may have a negative fiscal impact by increasing the number of people placed under felony community supervision or incarcerated within state correctional institutions. Whether the bill would result in a significant fiscal impact cannot be determined due to the lack of data or information related to the number of people who would be prosecuted for offenses involving the use or exhibition of an imitation firearm. The Office of Court Administration and Board of Pardons and Paroles indicate any additional work associate with the modifications outlined in the bill's provisions would be absorbed utilizing existing resources.
Local Government Impact
The impact to local government cannot be determined.
Source Agencies:
212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council, 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts, 644 Juvenile Justice Department, 696 Department of Criminal Justice, 697 Board of Pardons and Paroles