Honorable Bryan Hughes, Chair, Senate Committee on State Affairs
FROM:
Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
SB513 by Hall (Relating to the enforcement of certain federal laws regulating firearms, firearm accessories, and firearm ammunition within the State of Texas; creating a criminal offense.), As Introduced
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
Passage of the bill would prohibit state and local governments and employees from enforcing exclusively federal firearms laws. The provisions of the bill would prohibit state and local governments from adopting rules, orders, ordinances, or policies that require enforcement of exclusively federal firearms laws and would remove any state grant funds from local government who violate this provision of the bill. The bill would create a class A misdemeanor offense for knowingly enforcing or attempting to enforce exclusively federal firearm laws.
While there is no significant fiscal impact to state funding as a result of the bill, the impact on federal funding cannot be determined at this time because the response by federal agencies to this legislation is unknown.
Local Government Impact
The provisions of the bill could result in a loss of certain federal funds. Federal funds that may be impacted include those associated with federal and state coordinated law enforcement activities. However, the fiscal impact cannot be determined because it is unknown what federal and state laws regulating firearms may be enacted in the future.
The offense created by the bill would be as a Class A misdemeanor. 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.
Source Agencies:
212 Office of Court Admin, 302 Office of the Attorney General, 405 Department of Public Safety, 458 Alcoholic Beverage Commission, 802 Parks and Wildlife Department