LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                          Austin, Texas

                           FISCAL NOTE
                       74th Regular Session

                          April 17, 1995



 TO:     Honorable Hugo Berlanga, Chair         IN RE:  House Bill No. 1373
         Committee on Public Health                     By: Coleman
         House of Representatives
         Austin, Texas







FROM: John Keel, Director

In response to your request for a Fiscal Note on House Bill No.
1373 (Relating to creation of a lead-based paint certification
program for target housing, providing for a fee, and providing
for civil and criminal penalties.) 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 stated purpose of this bill is to establish, pursuant to
federal requirements, the eligibility of state and local
governments for federal lead-based paint abatement funds.  The
bill would establish a regulatory program at the Texas Department
of Health to certify persons involved in lead-based paint
activity and accredit training providers.  Rules must be passed
by the Board of Health to implement the program prior to January
1, 1996.  The bill provides that the program created by the
Department cannot exceed the minimum program requirements of
federal law.

The bill would permit the Department of Health to assess a fee to
recover the cost of administering the program.  The Department of
Health, in estimating fiscal implications of the bill as listed
below, made certain assumptions regarding fees and number of
persons to be certified or accredited. 

It is possible that federal funds would be made available to the
state for lead-based paint activity once the provisions of the    




bill were implemented.  However, the amount that would become 
available cannot be determined.

Costs would accrue to units of local government engaging in lead-
based paint abatement for certifying personnel performing these
duties.  It is assumed that some amount of federal funds would
become available to units of local government through the
implementation of provisions in the bill.  The Department of
Health estimates this amount at a minimum of $4,000,000 in fiscal
year 1996.

Costs noted below assume expenditures to develop and maintain a
regulatory program:  staff for licensing and enforcement
functions, travel, equipment, and other associated operating
expenses.












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  Probable Cost Out    Probable Revenue      Change in    
             Year      of  General      Gain to   General   Number of State 
                     Revenue Fund 001    Revenue Fund 001    Employees from 
                                                                FY 1995     
                                                                            
          1996                $622,506            $622,506              14.0
          1997                 982,644             982,644              22.0
                                                                            
          1998                 876,644             876,644              22.0
                                                                            
          1999                 876,644             876,644              22.0
          2000                 876,644             876,644              22.0
                                                                            
                                                                            
                                                                            
       Similar annual fiscal implications would continue as long as the
provisions of the bill are in effect.    




Source:   Texas Department of Health, Department of Housing and
Community Affairs
          LBB Staff: JK, KF, DF