Honorable Pete Flores, Chair, Senate Committee on Criminal Justice
FROM:
Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
SB659 by Schwertner (relating to the prosecution and punishment of the offense of
smuggling of persons.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would expand the conduct constituting the offense relating to smuggling of persons by including the certain assistance of another in the use of certain vehicles for intentions related to concealment and fleeing. It further expands the conduct by including if the actor assists or directs an individual onto a property without the effective consent of the owner or takes or forces an individual to remain on an a property without the individual's consent.
The bill would increase the criminal penalty for the offense relating to smuggling of persons from a third degree felony to a first degree felony with a minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years if the actor uses government resources to facilitate the commission of the offense.
It is assumed that any fiscal impact and any impact on state correctional populations or on the demand for state correctional resources would not be significant.
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, 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts