Honorable Pete Flores, Chair, Senate Committee on Criminal Justice
FROM:
Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB1443 by Schatzline (Relating to creating the criminal offense of promotion or possession of a child-like sex doll.), As Engrossed
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. 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 create the offense of promotion or possession of a child-like sex doll, and make promotion punishable as a second degree felony, possession with intent to promote as a third degree felony, and possession as a state jail felony.
The Office of Court Administration indicates that the fiscal implications of the bill are indeterminate. While the Comptroller of Public Accounts indicates that the impact on state revenue cannot be estimated, it notes the potential for an increase in revenue due to court costs collected as a result of the prosecution of additional felony cases.
Local Government Impact
While the fiscal impact cannot be determined, creating a new offense may result in additional demands upon local correctional resources due to a possible increase in the number of individuals placed under supervision in the community or confined locally.
Source Agencies:
212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council, 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts