Honorable John T. Smithee, Chair, House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence
FROM:
Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB1443 by Schatzline (Relating to creating the criminal offense of promotion of a child-like sex doll.), As Introduced
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 of child-like sex doll, committed when a person promotes or possesses with intent to promote a child-like sex doll, as defined in the bill, and make it punishable as a third degree felony. In cases of possession when the number of dolls is fewer than six, there would be no presumption of intent to promote and the offense would be punishable as a Class A misdemeanor.
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