Honorable Jeff Leach, Chair, House Committee on Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence
FROM:
Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB4256 by Spiller (Relating to actions brought by the attorney general on behalf of certain persons under the Texas Free Enterprise and Antitrust Act of 1983.), As Introduced
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would authorize the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) to bring a civil action on behalf of an individual or governmental entity for damage caused by violations of the Texas Free Enterprise and Antitrust Act. The OAG would be responsible for reviewing complaints, filing lawsuits in appropriate venues, and litigating to recover actual damages, costs, attorney's fees, and expert witness fees.
The OAG anticipates that any legal work resulting from the bill's enactment could be reasonably absorbed within current resources.
The Office of Court Administration does not anticipate a significant fiscal impact to the state court system as a result of the bill.
Local Government Impact
The OAG anticipates a positive fiscal impact on local governments. Local governments could benefit from recovered damages, costs, and fees without bearing the burden of independently prosecuting these cases; however, the full fiscal impact on local governments cannot be determined.
Source Agencies:
212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council, 302 Office of the Attorney General