LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE 74th Regular Session April 24, 1995 TO: Honorable Fred Hill, Chair IN RE: House Bill No. 1457 Committee on Urban Affairs By: Hudson House of Representatives Austin, Texas FROM: John Keel, Director In response to your request for a Fiscal Note on House Bill No. 1457 (relating to review of enforcement of the federal fair housing laws in this state) 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 institute a process to improve the enforcement federal fair housing laws in the State of Texas. The Department of Housing and Community Affairs would be required to review and gather information regarding violations of federal fair housing laws in subsidized housing. The Department would then submit this information to the Office of the Attorney General, which would be required to forward this information to the appropriate federal authorities. Since 1990, the Texas Commission on Human Rights has been responsible for enforcing the Texas Fair Housing Act. This involves investigating and resolving complaints of housing discrimination. The bill would not have an effect on this statutory responsibility. It would, however, require the Department of Housing and Community Affairs to obtain information from the Texas Commission on Human Rights and analyze the extent to which violations occur, the methods used by the federal government to remedy racial discrimination, and the effectiveness of those methods. 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 Change in Year Out of Number of State General Revenue Employees from Fund 001 FY 1995 1996 $48,373 1.0 1997 48,373 1.0 1998 48,373 1.0 1999 48,373 1.0 2000 48,373 1.0 Similar annual fiscal implications would continue as long as the provisions of the bill are in effect. No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated. Source: Office of the Attorney General, Department of Housing and Community Affairs LBB Staff: JK, PVT, RR