LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE, 84TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION April 14, 2015 TO: Honorable Abel Herrero, Chair, House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence FROM: Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE:HB1363 by Johnson (Relating to the prosecution of the offense of prostitution.), As Introduced The probable fiscal impact of implementing the bill is indeterminate due to the unavailability of reliable data or information related to an actor's role in the offense of prostitution. The bill would amend the Penal Code to reduce the punishment for the offense of prostitution depending on the actor's role in the encounter. Under the provisions of the bill, the punishment for the seller would be reduced from a state jail felony to a class A misdemeanor. Reducing the penalty for any criminal offense is expected to result in decreased demands upon the correctional resources of counties or of the State due to shorter terms of supervision in the community or shorter terms of confinement state correctional institutions. The bill may have a positive fiscal impact by decreasing the number of people on felony community supervision or incarcerated within state correctional institutions. Whether the bill would result in a significant fiscal impact is indeterminate due to a lack of statewide data on the individual's role in the encounter, specifically which of these individuals served as the seller in the encounter and would therefore be eligible for the penalty reduction outlined in the bill's provisions. Local Government Impact The bill would modify misdemeanor offenses. Changes in costs associated with enforcement, prosecution, and confinement are not anticipated to have a significant fiscal impact. Changes in revenue from fines imposed and collected are not anticipated to have a significant fiscal impact. Source Agencies:212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council LBB Staff: UP, KJo, LM, KVe LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE, 84TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION April 14, 2015 TO: Honorable Abel Herrero, Chair, House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence FROM: Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE:HB1363 by Johnson (Relating to the prosecution of the offense of prostitution.), As Introduced TO: Honorable Abel Herrero, Chair, House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence FROM: Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE: HB1363 by Johnson (Relating to the prosecution of the offense of prostitution.), As Introduced Honorable Abel Herrero, Chair, House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence Honorable Abel Herrero, Chair, House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board HB1363 by Johnson (Relating to the prosecution of the offense of prostitution.), As Introduced HB1363 by Johnson (Relating to the prosecution of the offense of prostitution.), As Introduced The probable fiscal impact of implementing the bill is indeterminate due to the unavailability of reliable data or information related to an actor's role in the offense of prostitution. The probable fiscal impact of implementing the bill is indeterminate due to the unavailability of reliable data or information related to an actor's role in the offense of prostitution. The bill would amend the Penal Code to reduce the punishment for the offense of prostitution depending on the actor's role in the encounter. Under the provisions of the bill, the punishment for the seller would be reduced from a state jail felony to a class A misdemeanor. Reducing the penalty for any criminal offense is expected to result in decreased demands upon the correctional resources of counties or of the State due to shorter terms of supervision in the community or shorter terms of confinement state correctional institutions. The bill may have a positive fiscal impact by decreasing the number of people on felony community supervision or incarcerated within state correctional institutions. Whether the bill would result in a significant fiscal impact is indeterminate due to a lack of statewide data on the individual's role in the encounter, specifically which of these individuals served as the seller in the encounter and would therefore be eligible for the penalty reduction outlined in the bill's provisions. The bill would amend the Penal Code to reduce the punishment for the offense of prostitution depending on the actor's role in the encounter. Under the provisions of the bill, the punishment for the seller would be reduced from a state jail felony to a class A misdemeanor. Reducing the penalty for any criminal offense is expected to result in decreased demands upon the correctional resources of counties or of the State due to shorter terms of supervision in the community or shorter terms of confinement state correctional institutions. The bill may have a positive fiscal impact by decreasing the number of people on felony community supervision or incarcerated within state correctional institutions. Whether the bill would result in a significant fiscal impact is indeterminate due to a lack of statewide data on the individual's role in the encounter, specifically which of these individuals served as the seller in the encounter and would therefore be eligible for the penalty reduction outlined in the bill's provisions. Local Government Impact The bill would modify misdemeanor offenses. Changes in costs associated with enforcement, prosecution, and confinement are not anticipated to have a significant fiscal impact. Changes in revenue from fines imposed and collected are not anticipated to have a significant fiscal impact. Source Agencies: 212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council 212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council LBB Staff: UP, KJo, LM, KVe UP, KJo, LM, KVe