LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
FISCAL NOTE
74th Regular Session
May 1, 1995
TO: Honorable Judith Zaffirini, Chair IN RE: Committee Substitute
Committee on Health & Human Services for Senate
Senate Bill No. 544
Austin, Texas
FROM: John Keel, Director
In response to your request for a Fiscal Note on Senate Bill No.
544 (Relating to lead-based paint activities in target housing;
providing civil, administrative, 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 bill would create a regulatory program at the Texas
Department of Health to certify persons involved in lead-based
paint activity in target housing. The bill specifies a number of
areas in which the Board of Health may adopt standards and rules
to carry out the program.
The bill specifies that the Department of Health may assess a fee
to recover the cost of administering the program.
It is possible that federal funds would be made available to the
state for lead-based paint activity once the provisions of this
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 activity for certifying personnel performing these
duties. It is assumed that some amount of federal funds would be
made available to units of local government for lead-based paint
activity. The Department of Health estimates this amount at a
minimum of $4,000,000 for fiscal year 1996.
Fiscal implications listed below assume a need for new staff at
the Department of Health to administer the program, including
several Environmental Quality Specialists, an engineer, and
associated support staff. Other costs include travel, equipment,
and other operating expenses to establish and maintain the
regulatory program. There would also be an amount included for
sample analyses necessary to the program.
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 815,782 815,782 19.0
1998 755,782 755,782 19.0
1999 755,782 755,782 19.0
2000 755,782 755,782 19.0
Similar annual fiscal implications would continue as long as the
provisions of the bill are in effect.
Source: Department of Health
LBB Staff: JK, KF, DF