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LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
FISCAL NOTE, 87TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
March 30, 2021
TO:
Honorable Lois W. Kolkhorst, Chair, Senate Committee on Health & Human Services
FROM:
Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
SB1616 by Bettencourt (Relating to powers and duties of governmental entities during a public health disaster; providing civil penalties.), As Introduced
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
This bill would remove applicable criminal penalties and replace them with civil penalties of not more than $500 for failure to obey a rule, order, or instruction from the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) or a health authority related to an area quarantine. The Attorney General, district or county attorney could sue to collect the civil penalties and recover costs and fees at the request of DSHS or a health authority.
This analysis assumes the provisions of the bill addressing felony sanctions for criminal offenses would not result in a significant impact on state correctional agencies. The analysis also assumes the provisions of the bill relating to powers and duties of governmental entities during a public health disaster could be implemented within existing resources.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
Source Agencies:
212 Office of Court Admin, 302 Office of the Attorney General, 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts, 537 State Health Services