Honorable Brian Birdwell, Chair, Senate Committee on Border Security
FROM:
Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB214 by Guillen (Relating to the prosecution of certain criminal offenses regarding the acquisition of firearms, firearm and ammunition smuggling, and terrorism.), As Engrossed
Expanding the conduct constituting an offense may result in increased 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 the 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 expand conduct constituting the offense of firearm smuggling to include when the person knowingly transports or transfers ammunition that was acquired in violation of the laws of any state or the United States. The bill would expand the conduct constituting terrorism to include certain offenses in the titled categories: offenses against the person; against property; against public administration; and against public health, safety, and morals. The bill would expand the conduct constituting the offense of unlawful transfer or acquisition of certain weapons to include acquiring a firearm with the intent to deliver to a person who the actor knows is prohibited from possessing the firearm by state law.
The impact on state correctional populations or on the demand for state correctional resources cannot be determined due to the 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 cannot be determined, expanding the conduct constituting an existing offense may result in increased 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