Honorable Chris Turner, Chair, House Committee on Business & Industry
FROM:
Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB2771 by Campos (Relating to the prices of fruits and vegetables during a declared disaster; creating a criminal offense.), As Introduced
No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend the Business and Commerce Code to prohibit a merchant from selling a fruit or vegetable at an exorbitant or excessive price or demanding an exorbitant or excessive price for a fruit or vegetable during a declared disaster period with the intent to take advantage of the disaster. A violation would be a Class A misdemeanor.
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.
No other fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.