COMMITTEE ON LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH

OVERSIGHT DIVISION



FISCAL NOTE



L.R. No.: 0863-01

Bill No.: SB 256

Subject: Courts; Crimes and Punishment; Criminal Procedure; Judges; Juries

Type: Original

Date: March 10, 2003




FISCAL SUMMARY



ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON GENERAL REVENUE FUND
FUND AFFECTED FY 2004 FY 2005 FY 2006
None
Total Estimated

Net Effect on

General Revenue

Fund

$0 $0 $0



ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON OTHER STATE FUNDS
FUND AFFECTED FY 2004 FY 2005 FY 2006
None
Total Estimated

Net Effect on Other

State Funds

$0 $0 $0



Numbers within parentheses: ( ) indicate costs or losses.

This fiscal note contains 3 pages.











ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON FEDERAL FUNDS
FUND AFFECTED FY 2004 FY 2005 FY 2006
None
Total Estimated

Net Effect on All

Federal Funds

$0 $0 $0



ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON LOCAL FUNDS
FUND AFFECTED FY 2004 FY 2005 FY 2006
Local Government $0 $0 $0




FISCAL ANALYSIS



ASSUMPTION



Officials from the Department of Corrections and the Office of State Public Defender assume the proposed legislation would have no fiscal impact on their agencies.



Officials from the Office of State Courts Administrator assume the proposed legislation would have no fiscal impact on the courts.



In response to a similar proposal, officials from the Office of Prosecution Services assume the proposed legislation would not have a significant impact on prosecuting attorneys.





FISCAL IMPACT - State Government FY 2004

(10 Mo.)

FY 2005 FY 2006
$0 $0 $0





FISCAL IMPACT - Local Government FY 2004

(10 Mo.)

FY 2005 FY 2006
$0 $0 $0





FISCAL IMPACT - Small Business



No direct fiscal impact to small businesses would be expected as a result of this proposal.





DESCRIPTION



The proposed legislation would provide that in a jury trial for murder in the first degree in which the death penalty was not waived, if the jury is unable to unanimously decide or agree upon punishment at death, the court would assess and declare the punishment at life imprisonment without eligibility for probation, parole, or release except by act of the Governor. The jury would be so instructed before the case is submitted.



This legislation is not federally mandated, would not duplicate any other program and would not require additional capital improvements or rental space.





SOURCES OF INFORMATION



Office of State Courts Administrator

Office of State Courts Administrator

Office of Prosecution Services

Office of State Public Defender















Mickey Wilson, CPA

Director

March 10, 2003