LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                          Austin, Texas

                           FISCAL NOTE
                       74th Regular Session

                        February 20, 1995



 TO:     Honorable Hugo Berlanga, Chair         IN RE:  House Bill No. 682
         Committee on Public Health                     By: Craddick
         House of Representatives
         Austin, Texas







FROM: John Keel, Director

In response to your request for a Fiscal Note on House Bill No.
682 (Relating to the regulation of certain animal control
officers; providing a penalty.) this office has determined the
following:

The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal
basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions
of the bill.

The bill would create a registration program for animal control
officers at the Texas Department of Health.  The bill would
create an account in the General Revenue Fund to be known as the
Animal Control Registration Account.  Funds collected and
deposited into the account would be dedicated to the
administration and enforcement of Chapter 829, Health & Safety
Code.  Funds would be collected through application,
registration, and examination fees. 

The bill would create an advisory committee to make
recommendations to the Board of Health regarding the adoption of
rules under Chapter 829, and advise the Department of Health on
the enforcement of the chapter.  Members of the advisory
committee would be entitled to reimbursement.

The bill would allow city and county governments to assess a fine
not to exceed $4 for each violation of an ordinance or order
relating to animal control or animal cruelty.  These surcharges
would only be used to pay for continuing education programs
required for renewal of registration as an animal control    




officer.
 
The probable fiscal implication of implementing the provisions of
the bill during each of the first  five years following passage
is estimated as follows:
     



            Fiscal  Cost out of Animal  Gain to Animal       Change in    
             Year        Control           Control        Number of State 
                       Registration      Registration      Employees from 
                         Account           Account            FY 1995     
                                                                          
          1996                 $44,640           $44,640               1.0
          1997                  38,976            38,976               1.0
                                                                          
          1998                  38,976            38,976               1.0
                                                                          
          1999                  38,976            38,976               1.0
          2000                  38,976            38,976               1.0
                                                                          
                                                                          
                                                                          

       Similar annual fiscal implications would continue as long as the
provisions of the bill are in effect.

The fiscal implication to  units of local government cannot be
determined.


Source:   Comptroller of Public Accounts, Department of Health
          LBB Staff: JK, KF, AZ, DF