Honorable John Whitmire, Chair, Senate Committee on Criminal Justice
FROM:
Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB279 by Jetton (Relating to the prosecution and punishment of the offense of trafficking of persons.), As Engrossed
The bill would expand the conduct constituting certain offenses related to trafficking of disabled individuals and increase the penalty from a second degree felony to a first degree felony.
Expanding the conduct constituting and modifying the penalty for 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 56 individuals arrested, 1 individual placed on adult community supervision, 4 individuals admitted into an adult state correctional institution, 1 individual placed on juvenile probation supervision, and no individuals admitted to a juvenile state correctional facility for second-degree felony trafficking of persons. It is unknown if the conduct of these offenses related to the trafficking of disabled individuals.
It is assumed that any impact on state correctional populations or on the demand for state correctional resources would not be significant.