H.R. 1842 would amend federal criminal law to broaden the scope of certain criminal fines and minimum prison sentences for individuals who have committed criminal offenses against minors.
Under the bill, more people may be convicted of such offenses, which could increase the number of federally incarcerated people. Based on an analysis of information provided by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts and the U.S. Sentencing Commission, CBO estimates that the costs of incarcerating and monitoring the probation of any additional people pursuant to the bill would have no significant effect on the federal budget in any year.
Enacting H.R. 1842 could increase the number of criminal fines collected from people convicted of offenses against children. Criminal fines are recorded as revenues, deposited in the Crime Victims Fund, and later spent without further appropriation action. Because enacting H.R. 1842 could affect revenues and associated direct spending, pay-as-you-go procedures apply. However, CBO expects that any additional revenues and subsequent direct spending would not be significant because the legislation would probably affect only a small number of cases. The bill’s net effect on the deficit would be negligible.
Enacting H.R. 1842 would not increase net direct spending or on-budget deficits in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2028.
H.R. 1842 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and any costs incurred to governments to comply with the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act would result from participation in a federal program.
