Honorable Pete Flores, Chair, Senate Committee on Criminal Justice
FROM:
Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
SB2969 by Parker (Relating to the creation of the criminal offense of trespass in a facility housing an animal and to restitution for property damage resulting from that trespass.), As Introduced
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would create a state jail felony offense of trespass in facility housing an animal committed when an actor enters without authority into a cage, enclosure, or other areas where an animal is exhibited or housed at a facility which is operated for public visitation, conservation, education, or science, including zoos.
The bill furthermore specifies that the penalty can be increased to a third degree felony if the actor harasses or causes injury or death to the animal and provides a defense to prosecution if the person entered the area to provide aid to a person or an animal.
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