TO:	Honorable John Whitmire, Chair, Senate Committee on Criminal Justice
FROM:	Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB28 by Slawson (Relating to enhancing the punishment for certain conduct constituting the criminal offense of aggravated assault.), As Engrossed

The bill would increase the penalty for the offense of aggravated assault from a second degree felony to a first degree felony in cases where the actor used a deadly weapon during the assault and caused a traumatic brain or spine injury to another that resulted in a persistent vegetative state or irreversible paralysis. It is assumed that any fiscal impact and any impact on state correctional populations or on the demand for state correctional resources would not be significant.

The Office of Court Administration and the Comptroller of Public Accounts anticipate no significant fiscal impact to the state. 

Local Government Impact

It is assumed that any fiscal impact to units of local government associated with enforcement, prosecution, supervision, or confinement would not be significant.