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LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT STATEMENT
88TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
April 10, 2023
TO:
Honorable Bryan Hughes, Chair, Senate Committee on State Affairs
FROM:
Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
SB997 by West (Relating to the publication of certain photographs of human remains by first responders, coroners, medical examiners, and certain other employees for a purpose other than an official purpose; creating a criminal offense.), As Introduced
The bill would create a state jail felony offense for publishing a photograph of human remains obtained while acting within the course and scope of duties as a first responder, coroner, medical examiner, employee of a coroner's office, or employee of an office of a medical examiner. The bill creates a defense to prosecution for the offense if the photograph was published for an official law enforcement or medical purpose.
Creating a new criminal offense may result in an increase in 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.
It is assumed that any impact on state correctional populations or on the demand for state correctional resources would not be significant.