LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
FISCAL NOTE
75th Regular Session
March 24, 1997
TO: Honorable Steven Wolens, Chair IN RE: House Bill No. 1691
Committee on State Affairs By: Eiland
House
Austin, Texas
FROM: John Keel, Director
In response to your request for a Fiscal Note on HB1691 ( Relating
to enforcement of the Texas Fair Housing Practices Act.) this
office has detemined the following:
Biennial Net Impact to General Revenue Funds by HB1691-As Introduced
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.
The bill would amend Section 301.131(a) of the
Texas Property Code, the Texas Fair Housing Act (TFHA) which
provides a cause of action for certain discriminatory acts and
practices relating to housing.
Fiscal Analysis
The bill would delete the requirement that the Attorney General
"shall" file cases referred for litigation by the Texas Commission
on Human Rights (TCHR) under the Texas Fair Housing Act. The
bill would give the Attorney General discretion to file cases
based on the merits of a case, rather than the current requirement
than such cases be filed.
Methodolgy
The bill would not create a new workload for the Office of the
Attorney General which currently handles referrals from the
Texas Commission on Human Rights. The Commission on Human Rights
states that the bill would remove the agency's current authority
to enforce the Texas Fair Housing Act, resulting in a loss of
"deferral status" under the federal fair housing law and a loss
of funds from the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development.
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 Revenue Change in Number
Gain/(Loss) from of State
Federal Funds Employees from
FY 1997
0555
1998 ($680,000) (5.0)
1998 (680,000) (5.0)
2000 (680,000) (5.0)
2001 (680,000) (5.0)
2002 (680,000) (5.0)
Net Impact on General Revenue Related Funds:
The probable fiscal implication to General Revenue related funds
during each of the first five years is estimated as follows:
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.
No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
Source: Agencies: 302 Office of the Attorney General
344 Commission on Human Rights
LBB Staff: JK ,JD ,JC