LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE 74th Regular Session April 17, 1995 TO: Honorable Bob Hunter, Chair IN RE: Committee Substitute Committee on State, Federal, & for International Relations Senate Bill House of Representatives No. 365 Austin, Texas FROM: John Keel, Director In response to your request for a Fiscal Note on Senate Bill No. 365 (relating to the continuation and functions of the Texas Historical Commission and to the abolition of the Antiquities Committee and the transfer of the committee's function to the commission) 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 continue the Texas Historical Commission and make revisions to the enabling statute. Significant revisions include abolishing the Antiquities Committee, transferring administration of the Antiquities Code of Texas to the Texas Historical Commission, and authorizing local property tax exemptions for privately owned archeological sites. The amount recommended for the administration of this agency in the General Appropriation Act, as introduced, (FY96 = $4,132,691; FY97 = $3,919,192 ) would be contingent upon passage of SB 365 or similar legislation. The appropriations would be financed from General Revenue, Federal Funds, Appropriated Receipts, and Interagency Contracts and would provide for approximately 89 employees. The bill would dedicate the balances and revenues in the Texas Preservation Trust Fund Account 664, a consolidated account in the General Revenue Fund, which is scheduled to lose its revenue dedication at the end of FY 1995. Although this provision would dedicate a revenue source in the state treasury, based on the amount of revenue that has been received by the fund, it would not have a significant fiscal impact. The bill would also result in a small savings to the state due to the elimination of direct costs for the Antiquities Committee, but the amount would not be significant. The provision of the bill authorizing local taxing authorities to provide property tax exemptions for privately owned archeological sites could result in a revenue loss to local governments if they choose to provide such exemptions. Although there would not be a direct revenue impact to the state, the Comptroller indicates that a reduction in local property taxable values could affect district property wealth, which could impact state funding for public education. However, the fiscal impact of this provision cannot be determined because it is not known whether or how many local units of government would choose to offer the exemption. No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated. The fiscal implication to units of local government cannot be determined. Source: Comptroller of Public Accounts, Historical Commission, Sunset Advisory Commission LBB Staff: JK, KW, RR