Honorable Garnet Coleman, Chair, House Committee on County Affairs
FROM:
Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB2392 by Campos (Relating to providing prisoners serving a sentence in a county jail with certain documents on discharge.), As Introduced
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend the Local Government Code to require the sheriff of a county jail to determine before a prisoner's discharge whether the prisoner has a valid driver's license or personal identification certificate and, if the prisoner does not, submit a request to the Department of Public Safety (DPS) on behalf of the prisoner for issuance of personal identification certificate.
Based on information provided by DPS, the Department of State Health Services, and the Commission on Jail Standards, any costs associated with the bill could be absorbed using existing resources
Local Government Impact
According to the Sheriff's Association of Texas, the bill would require county sheriff's offices to add a licensed jailer, at an annual salary of $58,071, and would create an additional estimated cost of $66 per inmate in fees and costs to acquire the required ID's and documents.
According to Bexar County, an indeterminate but significant fiscal impact to the county is anticipated.
Dallas County estimates their sheriff's office would need a dedicated position or the equivalent of five additional jailers and a clerk to process the additional paperwork. The annual salary and benefit costs for the new staff would exceed $444,500 in the first year and increase each year thereafter. In addition, an estimated $10,959 in operating and equipment costs would be incurred in the first year.
Source Agencies:
405 Department of Public Safety, 409 Commission on Jail Standards, 537 State Health Services