LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
 
CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT STATEMENT

87TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
 
March 30, 2021

TO:
Honorable Briscoe Cain, Chair, House Committee on Elections
 
FROM:
Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
 
IN RE:
HB574 by Bonnen (relating to the elements of the criminal offense of election fraud; increasing criminal penalties.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted

The provisions of the bill addressing felony sanctions are the subject of this analysis.  The bill would amend the Election Code as it relates to the offense of election fraud.  Under the provisions of the bill, election fraud would be expanded to include certain behaviors and the offense would now be punishable by a second degree felony.  Under existing statute, election fraud is punishable by a Class A Misdemeanor.

A second degree felony is punishable by confinement in prison for a term from 2 to 20 years and, in addition to confinement, an optional fine not to exceed $10,000.  A Class A Misdemeanor is punishable by confinement in county jail for a term not to exceed one year and, in addition to confinement, an optional fine not to exceed $4,000.

Creating an offense for which a criminal penalty is applied is expected to result in additional demands upon the correctional resources of counties or of the State due to an increase in the number of individuals placed under supervision in the community or sentenced to a term of confinement within state correctional institutions.  In fiscal years 2018 through 2020, fewer than 10 people were arrested, fewer than 10 people were placed onto direct community supervision, and fewer than 10 people were admitted into a state correctional institution for election fraud under existing statute.  This analysis assumes implementing the provisions of the bill addressing felony sanctions would not result in a significant impact on state correctional populations or on the demand for state correctional resources.  




Source Agencies:
LBB Staff:
JMc, SLE, LM, MP