Honorable Cole Hefner, Chair, House Committee on Homeland Security, Public Safety & Veterans' Affairs
FROM:
Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB4675 by Hefner (Relating to the unlawful possession of a firearm by a person not lawfully present in the United States.), 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 a 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 third degree felony offense of possessing a firearm while being unlawfully present in the United States.
According to the Comptroller of Public Accounts and the Office of Court Administration, the fiscal impact cannot be estimated as there is no data available to project the number of individuals who may be prosecuted under the new offense.
Local Government Impact
While the fiscal impact cannot be determined, creating a new offense may result in increased demands upon 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.
Source Agencies:
212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council, 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts