LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
FISCAL NOTE
74th Regular Session
April 28, 1995
TO: Honorable Pete Patterson, Chair IN RE: Committee Substitute
Committee on Agriculture & Livestock for House
House of Representatives Bill No. 2536
Austin, Texas
FROM: John Keel, Director
In response to your request for a Fiscal Note on House Bill No.
2536 (relating to establishing a citrus budwood certification
program for the designation of foundation groves containing
citrus trees from which citrus budwood is certified as free of
certain pathogens and as to type of citrus variety; providing
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 bill would establish the Texas Citrus Budwood Certification
program. The program would be administered by the Texas
Department of Agriculture. The Citrus Budwood Advisory Council
would be created to advise the Department on rules, standards,
and the administration of the program. Members of the advisory
council would not be eligible for the reimbursement of expenses
arising from service on the council.
The Department would be required to assess fees for foundation
grove approval and certification in the program in amounts
necessary to cover the costs of administering the program. All
fees and funds collected would be deposited into a special
account in the general revenue fund. The bill would provide for
penalties. Civil penalties recovered in suits instituted by a
county or district attorney would be divided between the county
or district attorney which brought the suit, and the general
revenue fund. The Department would also be allowed to assess
administrative penalties. Revenue from penalties cannot be
estimated.
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 from General Number of State
Revenue Fund 001 Revenue Fund 001 Employees from
FY 1995
1996 $0 $0 .0
1997 0 0 .0
1998 14,840 14,840 .4
1999 18,125 18,125 .5
2000 37,750 37,750 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
Agriculture
LBB Staff: JK, JH, DF