Honorable Joan Huffman, Chair, Senate Committee on State Affairs
FROM:
John McGeady, Assistant Director Sarah Keyton, Assistant Director Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB3490 by Cole (Relating to the prosecution and punishment of the criminal offense of harassment; creating a criminal offense.), As Engrossed
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend the Penal Code to expand the criminal offense of harassment. The bill would establish as an offense certain communications published on an Internet website. The offense expanded by this bill would be a Class A misdemeanor.
According to the Office of Court Administration (OCA), no significant impact to the state court system is anticipated.
Local Government Impact
A Class A misdemeanor is punishable by a fine of not more than $4,000, confinement in jail for a term not to exceed one year, or both. Costs associated with enforcement, prosecution and confinement could likely be absorbed within existing resources. Revenue gain from fines imposed and collected is not anticipated to have a significant fiscal implication.
According to OCA, although the bill expands the scope of the criminal offense of harassment, any new case volume driven by the changes should be absorbed by existing resources, and no significant fiscal impact to local courts is anticipated.
Source Agencies:
212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council