Honorable Brian Birdwell, Chair, Senate Committee on Border Security
FROM:
Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB7 by Guillen (Relating to border protection and economic development services, programs, and other measures, including establishing educational programs and the border protection unit, in this state to address the effects of ongoing disasters, including disasters caused by transnational and other criminal activity and public health threats.), As Engrossed
The bill would expand the offense of unauthorized acts involving the Department of Public Safety name, insignia, or division name to include use of the term "Border Protection Unit" in connection with an object, with the intent to create the appearance that the object belongs to or is being used by the department. Under current law, the offense is punishable as a Class A misdemeanor but may be punishable as a third degree felony in certain circumstances.
Expanding the conduct constituting an existing offense may result in additional demands upon state and 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.
In fiscal year 2022, there were no individuals arrested, no individuals placed on adult or juvenile community supervision, and no individuals admitted into an adult or juvenile state correctional institution for the offense of unauthorized acts involving the Department of Public Safety name, insignia, or division name.
It is assumed that any impact on state correctional populations or on the demand for state correctional resources would not be significant.