TO:	Honorable James White, Chair, House Committee on Homeland Security & Public Safety
FROM:	Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB882 by Hinojosa (Relating to the unlawful transfer of a firearm; creating a criminal offense.), As Introduced

The bill would amend the Penal Code to makes it an offense for any person to knowingly purchase, rent, lease, or receive a firearm as a loan or gift from another person while that person is a fugitive from justice for a Class B misdemeanor, any higher category of offense, an offense under the laws of another state, federal law, or the Uniform Code of Military Justice containing elements that are the same as or similar to the state offense.

Based on the analysis of the Office of Court Administration and Department of Public Safety, it is assumed that duties and responsibilities associated with implementing the bill could be accomplished utilizing existing resources. In addition, no significant fiscal impact to the state court system is anticipated with the implementation of the bill.

This analysis assumes the provisions of the bill addressing sanctions for criminal offenses would not result in a significant impact on state correctional agencies.

Local Government Impact

The offense expanded by the bill would be a Class A misdemeanor. 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. 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. 

No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.