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H.R. 5949, FISA Amendments Act Reauthorization Act of 2012 1 (July 19, 2012)

handle is hein.congrec/cbo10853 and id is 1 raw text is: CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE
COST ESTIMATE
July 19, 2012
H.R. 5949
FISA Amendments Act Reauthorization Act of 2012
As reported by the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence
on June 28, 2012
H.R. 5949 would extend the authority of the federal government to conduct surveillance
pursuant to the FISA Amendments Act of 2008 (Public Law 110-261). Because CBO
does not provide cost estimates for classified programs, this estimate addresses only the
budgetary effects on unclassified programs affected by the bill. On that basis, CBO
estimates that implementing H.R. 5949 would have no significant cost to the federal
government.
Enacting the bill could affect direct spending and revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go
procedures apply. However, CBO estimates that any effects would be insignificant for
each year.
The FISA Amendments Act of 2008 clarified the authority of the federal government to
surveil and intercept communications of certain persons located outside the United States.
H.R. 5949 would extend the provisions of that act by five years (otherwise they expire
after December 31, 2012). As a result, the government might be able to prosecute
criminal cases that it otherwise would not be able to pursue. CBO expects that H.R. 5949
would apply to a relatively small number of additional offenders, however, so any
increase in costs for law enforcement, court proceedings, or prison operations would not
be significant. Any such costs would be subject to the availability of appropriated funds.
Because those prosecuted and convicted under H.R. 5949 could be subject to criminal
fines, the federal government might collect additional fines if the legislation is enacted.
Criminal fines are deposited as revenues in the Crime Victims Fund and later spent. CBO
expects that any additional revenues and direct spending would not be significant because
of the relatively small number of cases likely to be affected.
The bill would impose both private-sector and intergovernmental mandates by extending
an existing mandate that would limit civil actions and require providers of
communication services to provide information. There is little information about the
prevalence of electronic surveillance in those cases or the scope or size of potential

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