Honorable John T. Smithee, Chair, House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence
FROM:
Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB1255 by Toth (Relating to increasing the criminal penalty for certain offenses committed by a professional who is required to report child abuse or neglect and against a child under the care of that professional.), As Introduced
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would increase the criminal penalty for certain solicitation, trafficking, sexual, and assaultive offenses to the next higher category if a professional who is required to report child abuse or neglect commits an offense against a child who was at the time under the professional's care, custody, or control. When the offense is a Class A misdemeanor, the minimum term of confinement would be increased to 180 days; punishment when the offense is a first degree felony would not be increased.
It is assumed that any fiscal impact and any impact on state correctional populations or on the demand for state correctional resources would not be significant.
Local Government Impact
It is assumed that any fiscal impact to units of local government associated with enforcement, prosecution, supervision, or confinement would not be significant.
Source Agencies:
212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council, 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts