LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE, 84TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION March 23, 2015 TO: Honorable Larry Phillips, Chair, House Committee on Homeland Security & Public Safety FROM: Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE:HB12 by Longoria (Relating to the border prosecution unit.), As Introduced The bill would require the state to reimburse counties located in the border region for certain expenses incurred in the investigation of border crime and operational expenses of the border prosecution unit. These operational expenses would include salaries for staff, including an administrator and an undetermined number of attorneys, as well as reimbursements for board members. Costs to state for operations of the border prosecution unit and for reimbursements to counties cannot be determined at this time. However, because the bill would allow the border prosecution unit to hire staff as needed, and would require the state to reimburse these costs, the potential cost to the state could be significant. The bill would amend the Government Code to establish a Border Prosecution Unit, which would be staffed by an administrator, one or more attorneys per subregion, and additional employees as necessary. The bill would require the state to reimburse counties for expenses incurred for the investigation of border crime and for operational expenses of the unit, including training, prosecution and investigation expenses. The bill would require the commissioners court of a county that incurs these expenses to certify the amount of reimbursement to the Comptroller and would require the Comptroller to issue a warrant either in the amount the commissioners court requested, or in an amount that the Comptroller determines to be reasonable. The bill would take effect September 1, 2015. Local Government Impact Because the bill would require the state to reimburse the affected county for costs associated with implementing the provisions of the bill, the bill would result in savings to the affected county in an amount equivalent to the state reimbursement. Source Agencies:212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council, 301 Office of the Governor, 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts, 405 Department of Public Safety LBB Staff: UP, ESi, EP, JAW, LBe, LCO
LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
FISCAL NOTE, 84TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
March 23, 2015
TO: Honorable Larry Phillips, Chair, House Committee on Homeland Security & Public Safety FROM: Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE:HB12 by Longoria (Relating to the border prosecution unit.), As Introduced
TO: Honorable Larry Phillips, Chair, House Committee on Homeland Security & Public Safety
FROM: Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE: HB12 by Longoria (Relating to the border prosecution unit.), As Introduced
Honorable Larry Phillips, Chair, House Committee on Homeland Security & Public Safety
Honorable Larry Phillips, Chair, House Committee on Homeland Security & Public Safety
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
HB12 by Longoria (Relating to the border prosecution unit.), As Introduced
HB12 by Longoria (Relating to the border prosecution unit.), As Introduced
The bill would require the state to reimburse counties located in the border region for certain expenses incurred in the investigation of border crime and operational expenses of the border prosecution unit. These operational expenses would include salaries for staff, including an administrator and an undetermined number of attorneys, as well as reimbursements for board members. Costs to state for operations of the border prosecution unit and for reimbursements to counties cannot be determined at this time. However, because the bill would allow the border prosecution unit to hire staff as needed, and would require the state to reimburse these costs, the potential cost to the state could be significant.
The bill would require the state to reimburse counties located in the border region for certain expenses incurred in the investigation of border crime and operational expenses of the border prosecution unit. These operational expenses would include salaries for staff, including an administrator and an undetermined number of attorneys, as well as reimbursements for board members. Costs to state for operations of the border prosecution unit and for reimbursements to counties cannot be determined at this time. However, because the bill would allow the border prosecution unit to hire staff as needed, and would require the state to reimburse these costs, the potential cost to the state could be significant.
The bill would amend the Government Code to establish a Border Prosecution Unit, which would be staffed by an administrator, one or more attorneys per subregion, and additional employees as necessary. The bill would require the state to reimburse counties for expenses incurred for the investigation of border crime and for operational expenses of the unit, including training, prosecution and investigation expenses. The bill would require the commissioners court of a county that incurs these expenses to certify the amount of reimbursement to the Comptroller and would require the Comptroller to issue a warrant either in the amount the commissioners court requested, or in an amount that the Comptroller determines to be reasonable. The bill would take effect September 1, 2015.
Local Government Impact
Because the bill would require the state to reimburse the affected county for costs associated with implementing the provisions of the bill, the bill would result in savings to the affected county in an amount equivalent to the state reimbursement.
Source Agencies: 212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council, 301 Office of the Governor, 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts, 405 Department of Public Safety
212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council, 301 Office of the Governor, 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts, 405 Department of Public Safety
LBB Staff: UP, ESi, EP, JAW, LBe, LCO
UP, ESi, EP, JAW, LBe, LCO