TO:	Honorable Bryan Hughes, Chair, Senate Committee on State Affairs
FROM:	Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	SB162 by Blanco (Relating to a false or misleading statement made to illegally acquire a firearm; creating a criminal offense.), As Introduced

The bill would amend the Penal Code as it relates to the unlawful transfer of certain weapons to make it a Class A misdemeanor offense for a person to knowingly make a materially false or misleading statement in providing information to a person for purposes of complying with a National Instant Criminal Background check as required by federal law. 

According to the Office of Court Administration, any increased case volume driven by the bill should be absorbed by existing resources and no significant fiscal impact to the state court system is anticipated.

Local Government Impact

According to the Texas Association of Counties, no significant fiscal implication to counties is anticipated.

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.