LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
 
FISCAL NOTE, 87TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
 
May 29, 2021

TO:
Honorable Dan Patrick, Lieutenant Governor, Senate
Honorable Dade Phelan, Speaker of the House, House of Representatives
 
FROM:
Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
 
IN RE:
SB1831 by Taylor (Relating to the punishment for trafficking of persons, online solicitation of a minor, and prostitution and to the dissemination of certain information, including the required posting of certain signs, regarding human trafficking; increasing criminal penalties; providing a civil penalty.), Conference Committee Report

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The Texas Education Agency is required to implement a provision of this Act only if the legislature appropriates money specifically for that purpose. If the legislature does not appropriate money specifically for that purpose, the agency may, but is not required to, implement the provision using other appropriations available for that purpose. 

The bill would amend various codes as they relate to trafficking of persons, online solicitation of a minor, and prostitution and to the dissemination of certain information, including the required posting of certain signs, regarding human trafficking. Under the provisions of the bill, criminal penalties for certain offenses would be increased or enhanced to the next higher offense level if it involved a school as outlined in the bill. Additionally, certain entities would have requirements related to warning signs about trafficking of persons and violations of certain rules could be subject to a civil penalty as outlined in the bill.

It is assumed the costs associated with the bill's provisions relating to the inclusion of information relating to human trafficking prevention in the curriculum of driver education and driving safety courses could be absorbed using existing resources. The Office of Court Administration, Office of the Attorney General, Parks and Wildlife, Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation, Texas Education Agency, and Texas Department of Criminal Justice indicate the modifications outlined in the bill's provisions would not result in a significant fiscal impact.  According to the Comptroller's Office, the fiscal impact of the bill cannot be determined as the number of cases of noncompliance that would result in penalty revenue is unknown. This analysis assumes implementing the provisions of the bill addressing felony sanctions would not result in a significant impact on the demand for state correctional resources. 

Local Government Impact

No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.


Source Agencies:
302 Office of the Attorney General, 701 Texas Education Agency
LBB Staff:
JMc, CMA, LBO, LM, SPA