LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE, 82ND LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION March 21, 2011 TO: Honorable Pete Gallego, Chair, House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence FROM: John S O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE:HB290 by Jackson, Jim (Relating to the punishment for the offense of employment harmful to children.), As Introduced No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated. The bill would amend the Penal Code to make the offense of employment harmful to children punishable as a felony of the third degree if the defendant has a prior conviction for the offense. The offense is currently punishable as a Class A misdemeanor. The bill would take effect on September 1, 2011 and would apply to an offense committed on or after the effective date. Increasing the penalty for any criminal offense is expected to result in increased demands upon the correctional resources of counties or of the State due to longer terms of probation, or, longer terms of confinement in county jails or prison. When an offense is changed from a misdemeanor to a felony, there is a transfer of the burden of confinement and/or supervision of convicted offenders from the counties to the State. It is assumed the number of persons convicted under this statute would not result in a significant impact on programs and workload of state corrections agencies or on the demand for resources and services of those agencies. Local Government Impact No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated. Source Agencies: LBB Staff: JOB, ESi, GG, LM LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE, 82ND LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION March 21, 2011 TO: Honorable Pete Gallego, Chair, House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence FROM: John S O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE:HB290 by Jackson, Jim (Relating to the punishment for the offense of employment harmful to children.), As Introduced TO: Honorable Pete Gallego, Chair, House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence FROM: John S O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE: HB290 by Jackson, Jim (Relating to the punishment for the offense of employment harmful to children.), As Introduced Honorable Pete Gallego, Chair, House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence Honorable Pete Gallego, Chair, House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence John S O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board John S O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board HB290 by Jackson, Jim (Relating to the punishment for the offense of employment harmful to children.), As Introduced HB290 by Jackson, Jim (Relating to the punishment for the offense of employment harmful to children.), As Introduced No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated. No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated. The bill would amend the Penal Code to make the offense of employment harmful to children punishable as a felony of the third degree if the defendant has a prior conviction for the offense. The offense is currently punishable as a Class A misdemeanor. The bill would take effect on September 1, 2011 and would apply to an offense committed on or after the effective date. Increasing the penalty for any criminal offense is expected to result in increased demands upon the correctional resources of counties or of the State due to longer terms of probation, or, longer terms of confinement in county jails or prison. When an offense is changed from a misdemeanor to a felony, there is a transfer of the burden of confinement and/or supervision of convicted offenders from the counties to the State. It is assumed the number of persons convicted under this statute would not result in a significant impact on programs and workload of state corrections agencies or on the demand for resources and services of those agencies. The bill would amend the Penal Code to make the offense of employment harmful to children punishable as a felony of the third degree if the defendant has a prior conviction for the offense. The offense is currently punishable as a Class A misdemeanor. The bill would take effect on September 1, 2011 and would apply to an offense committed on or after the effective date. Local Government Impact No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated. Source Agencies: LBB Staff: JOB, ESi, GG, LM JOB, ESi, GG, LM