Texas 2021 87th Regular

Texas House Bill HB4471 Analysis / Analysis

Filed 05/03/2021

                    BILL ANALYSIS             H.B. 4471     By: Goldman     Pensions, Investments & Financial Services     Committee Report (Unamended)             BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE    The state's crime victims' compensation program, administered by the attorney general's office, provides financial assistance to victims of certain criminally injurious conduct for expenses such as medical and mental health care costs and costs of relocation to a safer home. There are concerns about the recent decline of funding sources, including state court costs, which have been further exacerbated by the pandemic, resulting in a projected $70 million shortfall for the 2022-2023 fiscal biennium. It has been suggested that a new, more stable funding source is needed. H.B. 4471 seeks to address this shortfall by providing for additional funding sources for victims assistance and sexual assault prevention services under the program.       CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT   It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.       RULEMAKING AUTHORITY    It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.       ANALYSIS    H.B. 4471 amends the Government Code to increase from $9,500 to $50,000 the maximum amount of the nonrefundable fee for examination and approval of a record of proceedings for a public security issue submitted by an issuer to the attorney general. The bill requires such fees collected by the attorney general to be deposited in the state treasury and expended as provided in the general appropriations act. Fees collected in excess of amounts provided in the general appropriations act may be appropriated back to the attorney general for the purpose of administering victim related services and sexual assault programs.       EFFECTIVE DATE    September 1, 2021.          

BILL ANALYSIS

# BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

 

H.B. 4471
By: Goldman
Pensions, Investments & Financial Services
Committee Report (Unamended)

H.B. 4471

By: Goldman

Pensions, Investments & Financial Services

Committee Report (Unamended)

 

 

 

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE    The state's crime victims' compensation program, administered by the attorney general's office, provides financial assistance to victims of certain criminally injurious conduct for expenses such as medical and mental health care costs and costs of relocation to a safer home. There are concerns about the recent decline of funding sources, including state court costs, which have been further exacerbated by the pandemic, resulting in a projected $70 million shortfall for the 2022-2023 fiscal biennium. It has been suggested that a new, more stable funding source is needed. H.B. 4471 seeks to address this shortfall by providing for additional funding sources for victims assistance and sexual assault prevention services under the program.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT   It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY    It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS    H.B. 4471 amends the Government Code to increase from $9,500 to $50,000 the maximum amount of the nonrefundable fee for examination and approval of a record of proceedings for a public security issue submitted by an issuer to the attorney general. The bill requires such fees collected by the attorney general to be deposited in the state treasury and expended as provided in the general appropriations act. Fees collected in excess of amounts provided in the general appropriations act may be appropriated back to the attorney general for the purpose of administering victim related services and sexual assault programs.
EFFECTIVE DATE    September 1, 2021.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

 

The state's crime victims' compensation program, administered by the attorney general's office, provides financial assistance to victims of certain criminally injurious conduct for expenses such as medical and mental health care costs and costs of relocation to a safer home. There are concerns about the recent decline of funding sources, including state court costs, which have been further exacerbated by the pandemic, resulting in a projected $70 million shortfall for the 2022-2023 fiscal biennium. It has been suggested that a new, more stable funding source is needed. H.B. 4471 seeks to address this shortfall by providing for additional funding sources for victims assistance and sexual assault prevention services under the program.

 

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

 

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY 

 

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

 

ANALYSIS 

 

H.B. 4471 amends the Government Code to increase from $9,500 to $50,000 the maximum amount of the nonrefundable fee for examination and approval of a record of proceedings for a public security issue submitted by an issuer to the attorney general. The bill requires such fees collected by the attorney general to be deposited in the state treasury and expended as provided in the general appropriations act. Fees collected in excess of amounts provided in the general appropriations act may be appropriated back to the attorney general for the purpose of administering victim related services and sexual assault programs.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE 

 

September 1, 2021.