Honorable Cole Hefner, Chair, House Committee on Homeland Security, Public Safety & Veterans' Affairs
FROM:
Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB2956 by McLaughlin (Relating to a central database containing information about certain persons who have been convicted of or received a grant of deferred adjudication community supervision for certain offenses involving family violence and related notice requirements; creating a criminal offense.), As Introduced
Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB2956, As Introduced: a negative impact of ($8,197,068) through the biennium ending August 31, 2027.
The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill.
General Revenue-Related Funds, Five- Year Impact:
Fiscal Year
Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds
2026
($5,055,464)
2027
($3,141,604)
2028
($3,141,604)
2029
($3,141,604)
2030
($3,141,604)
All Funds, Five-Year Impact:
Fiscal Year
Probable Savings/(Cost) from General Revenue Fund 1
Change in Number of State Employees from FY 2025
2026
($5,055,464)
11.0
2027
($3,141,604)
21.0
2028
($3,141,604)
21.0
2029
($3,141,604)
21.0
2030
($3,141,604)
21.0
Fiscal Analysis
The bill would direct the Department of Public Safety (DPS) to establish and maintain a computerized central database containing information about individuals who have been convicted of or have received deferred adjudication for certain offenses as outlined by the provisions of the bill. The bill would also establish certain rules related to the registry including public notices regarding registered individuals, information sharing, and registry exemption. The bill would also permit DPS to solicit and accept funding from certain sources to comply with the provision of the bill and permit DPS to establish and maintain the database and implement the registry only if sufficient funds are available.
The bill would create a Class C misdemeanor offense committed when a person who is required to register fails to comply with the registration requirements.
Methodology
According to the Department of Public Safety (DPS), the duties and responsibilities associated with implementing the provisions of the bill could not be absorbed within existing resources. DPS states that 11.0 full-time equivalent (FTE) positions would be needed establish the database in fiscal year 2026 including 1.0 Program Specialist IV, 4.0 Records Analyst III, 3.0 Investigator V, 1.0 Program Supervisor V, 1.0 Manager V, 1.0 Program Specialist V. DPS would require an additional 10 FTEs in fiscal year 2027 including 1.0 Program Specialist IV, 5.0 Records Analyst III, 3.0 Investigator V, 1.0 Program Supervisor V to manage the database and implement the registry.
This analysis includes $1,032,846 in fiscal year 2026 and $1,920,823 in fiscal year 2027 for salary and benefits. Other costs including consumables supplies, travel, fuel, rent, other operating expenses, and capital expenditures would total $791,319 in fiscal year 2026 and $720,781 in fiscal year 2027. Professional services related to staff augmentation and database operations would total $306,299 in fiscal year 2026 and $500,000 in fiscal year 2027.
According to the Office of Court Administration, the Commission on Jail Standards, the Texas Department on Criminal Justice, and the Board of Pardons and Paroles, any cost associated with implementing the provisions of the bill could be absorbed using existing resources.
It is assumed that any impact on state correctional populations or on the demand for state correctional resources would not be significant.
Technology
DPS also anticipates $2,925,000 in capital expenditures related to information technology including $2,750,000 to create the database and $175,000 for updates to the computerized criminal history system in fiscal year 2026 only.
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, 405 Department of Public Safety, 409 Commission on Jail Standards, 696 Department of Criminal Justice, 697 Board of Pardons and Paroles