Honorable Todd Hunter, Chair, House Committee on State Affairs
FROM:
Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB1600 by Hefner (Relating to the creation of a criminal offense for illegal entry into this state from Mexico by a person who is not a citizen or legal permanent resident of the United States.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted
Creating a new criminal offense may result in additional demands upon state correctional resources due to a possible increase in the number of individuals placed under supervision in the community or sentenced to a term of confinement. The fiscal implications of the bill cannot be determined due to a lack of data to estimate the prevalence of conduct outlined in the bill's provisions that would be subject to criminal penalties.
The bill would create a third degree felony offense for a person who is not a citizen or legal permanent resident of the United States entering or attempting to enter the state by crossing its border with Mexico at any location other than a port of entry. The penalty would be increased to a second degree felony in a case with a previous conviction of the offense.
The fiscal impact and any impact on state correctional populations or on the demand for state correctional resources cannot be determined due to a lack of data to estimate the prevalence of conduct outlined in the bill's provisions that would be subject to criminal penalties.
Local Government Impact
While the fiscal impact to units of local government cannot be determined, creating a new criminal offense may result in additional demands upon local correctional resources due to a possible increase in the number of individuals placed under supervision in the community or sentenced to a term of confinement.
Source Agencies:
212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council, 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts