Bill: HB 748, 85(R) - 2017

Committee

House Criminal Jurisprudence

Vote Recommendation

Vote Recommendation Economic Freedom Property Rights Personal Responsibility Limited Government Individual Liberty
No Neutral Neutral Neutral Negative Neutral

Author(s)

Jessica Farrar

Bill Caption

Relating to certain costs associated with certain court proceedings for cruelly treated animals; authorizing fees and costs. 

Fiscal Notes

From the LBB: No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated. 

Bill Analysis

This bill would allow an owner found to have cruelly treated an animal in counties or municipalities with a population of at least 700,000 people to be ordered to pay the county or municipality's attorney fees.

Vote Recommendation Notes

This legislation is a case of overcriminalization. A person who is found at trial to have committed an offense under this chapter is liable for a Class B misdemeanor which is punishable by a fine up to $2,500, confinement in jail for up to 180 days, or both. Add a a person's own court costs and legal defense costs and the total consequences are already significant. Adding still further to the costs by requiring such a person to also be liable for the government's costs makes the total penalty disproportionate to the offense. For these reasons we oppose HB 748. 


Source URL (retrieved on 03/19/2024 01:03 AM): http://reports.texasaction.com/bill/85r/hb748?print_view=true