LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
FISCAL NOTE
75th Regular Session
May 9, 1997
TO: Honorable James E. "Pete" Laney IN RE: House Bill No. 255, As Passed 2nd House
Speaker of the House Denny
House of Representatives
Austin, Texas
FROM: John Keel, Director
In response to your request for a Fiscal Note on HB255 ( Relating
to permitting certain law enforcement authorities and probation
officers to receive reduced airline fares while engaged in certain
official duties.) this office has detemined the following:
Biennial Net Impact to General Revenue Funds by HB255-As Passed 2nd House
Implementing the provisions of the bill would result in a net
impact of $0 to General Revenue Related Funds through the biennium
ending August 31, 1999.
The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal
basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions
of the bill.
Fiscal Analysis
The bill would allow a county sheriff, deputy sheriff, or juvenile
probation officer who is transporting a state prisoner to participate
in the General Services Commission's (GSC) contracts for travel
services so that these officials, and their prisoners, can receive
reduced airline fares. The GSC would charge counties a fee
for travel services received under this bill.
Methodolgy
Estimates are based on the commission's determination that extending
travel contract eligibility to county sheriffs, deputy sheriffs,
probation officers and their prisoners would significantly increase
the agency's travel management workload. Counties would be
charged a fee by the commission to recover the agency's costs.
The GSC notes that use of the state's discounted airline
fares by county officials may lead to fare increases under the
state's travel contracts. This is based on the assumption that
higher demand for discounted airfares would lead airlines to
reduce the discount offered under state travel contracts in
an attempt to recover lost revenue.
The probable fiscal implications of implementing the provisions
of the bill during each of the first five years following passage
is estimated as follows:
Five Year Impact:
Fiscal Year Probable Probable Revenue
Savings/(Cost) Gain/(Loss) from
from Other - Other -
Interagency Interagency
Contracts Contracts
OTHER-OTH OTHER-OTH
1998 ($50,964) $50,964
1998 (37,964) 37,964
2000 (37,964) 37,964
2001 (37,964) 37,964
2002 (37,964) 37,964
Net Impact on General Revenue Related Funds:
Fiscal Year Probable Net Postive/(Negative)
General Revenue Related Funds
Funds
1998 $0
1999 0
2000 0
2001 0
2002 0
Similar annual fiscal implications would continue as long as
the provisions of the bill are in effect.
The GSC notes that use of the state's discounted airline fares
by county officials would result in a potential savings of $8,750
per county or $750,000 statewide, minus fees paid to the GSC
for administrative expenses. Actual savings would vary depending
on each county's airline travel volume. County administrative
costs associated with processing travel accounts may reduce
these savings.
Source: Agencies: 303 General Services Commission
LBB Staff: JK ,JD ,RN