LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE, 84TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION April 3, 2015 TO: Honorable John Kuempel, Chair, House Committee on General Investigating & Ethics FROM: Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE:HB1531 by Geren (Relating to the making and receiving of referrals for legal services by certain legislators and executive officers; creating a criminal offense.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated. The bill would amend the Government Code to create a Class A misdemeanor for certain elected officials to make or receive referrals for legal services for compensation or any other benefit unless the referral complies with the State Bar of Texas rules or is evidenced by a written contract between parties. A Class A misdemeanor is punishable by a fine of not more than $4,000, confinement in jail for a term not to exceed one year, or both. Local Government Impact Costs associated with enforcement, prosecution and confinement could likely be absorbed within existing resources. Revenue gain from fines imposed and collected is not anticipated to have a significant fiscal implication Source Agencies:356 Texas Ethics Commission LBB Staff: UP, FR, SD, EK
LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
FISCAL NOTE, 84TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
April 3, 2015
TO: Honorable John Kuempel, Chair, House Committee on General Investigating & Ethics FROM: Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE:HB1531 by Geren (Relating to the making and receiving of referrals for legal services by certain legislators and executive officers; creating a criminal offense.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted
TO: Honorable John Kuempel, Chair, House Committee on General Investigating & Ethics
FROM: Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE: HB1531 by Geren (Relating to the making and receiving of referrals for legal services by certain legislators and executive officers; creating a criminal offense.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted
Honorable John Kuempel, Chair, House Committee on General Investigating & Ethics
Honorable John Kuempel, Chair, House Committee on General Investigating & Ethics
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
HB1531 by Geren (Relating to the making and receiving of referrals for legal services by certain legislators and executive officers; creating a criminal offense.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted
HB1531 by Geren (Relating to the making and receiving of referrals for legal services by certain legislators and executive officers; creating a criminal offense.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted
No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend the Government Code to create a Class A misdemeanor for certain elected officials to make or receive referrals for legal services for compensation or any other benefit unless the referral complies with the State Bar of Texas rules or is evidenced by a written contract between parties. A Class A misdemeanor is punishable by a fine of not more than $4,000, confinement in jail for a term not to exceed one year, or both.
Local Government Impact
Costs associated with enforcement, prosecution and confinement could likely be absorbed within existing resources. Revenue gain from fines imposed and collected is not anticipated to have a significant fiscal implication
Source Agencies: 356 Texas Ethics Commission
356 Texas Ethics Commission
LBB Staff: UP, FR, SD, EK
UP, FR, SD, EK