LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
 
FISCAL NOTE, 86TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
 
March 17, 2019

TO:
Honorable Joan Huffman, Chair, Senate Committee on State Affairs
 
FROM:
John McGeady, Assistant Director     Sarah Keyton, Assistant Director
Legislative Budget Board
 
IN RE:
SB1151 by Huffman (Relating to the comptroller's access to criminal history record information of wrongfully imprisoned persons.), As Introduced

The bill could result in savings to the General Revenue Fund by reducing erroneously made wrongful imprisonment payments. The savings cannot be estimated at this time.

The bill would amend Chapter 411 of the Government Code to add that the Comptroller of Public Accounts (CPA) is entitled to obtain from the Department of Public Safety (DPS) criminal history record information maintained by DPS for the purpose of administration of Chapter 103 of the Civil Practice and Remedies Code, relating to compensation to persons wrongfully imprisoned. Based on the analysis of the CPA, the provisions of the bill could result in savings from the reduction of erroneous wrongful imprisonment payments by providing the CPA more timely access to criminal history records of affected individuals, which could result in termination of the payments. However, that savings cannot be estimated. The DPS estimates a small increase in receipts from fees to be collected by providing additional background checks for the CPA.

Local Government Impact

No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.


Source Agencies:
304 Comptroller of Public Accounts, 405 Department of Public Safety
LBB Staff:
WP, CMa, NV, LCO