LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
FISCAL NOTE
75th Regular Session
April 7, 1997
TO: Honorable Pete Patterson, Chair IN RE: House Bill No. 2396
Committee on Agriculture & Livestock By: Finnell
House
Austin, Texas
FROM: John Keel, Director
In response to your request for a Fiscal Note on HB2396 ( Relating
to the prevention of horse theft.) this office has detemined
the following:
Biennial Net Impact to General Revenue Funds by HB2396-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.
Fiscal Analysis
The bill would require the Agricultural Extension Service to
develop an ongoing training program for horse owners to promote
the prevention of horse theft. Each county Extension Service
office would be required to notify horse owners of the training
program. State, county, or local law enforcement agencies who
investigate horse thefts would be required to provide similar
training to its employees.
Horse owners would be allowed
to mark or brand their horses with identification and to record
the identification with the appropriate county clerk. Slaughterhouses
would be required to keep certain records with regard to slaughtered
horses.
The bill would require a fee to be paid for each
horse purchased for slaughter by the slaughterer. TSCRA would
be authorized to inspect slaughterhouses regarding the identification
of horses sold for slaughter and exported as meat.
Methodolgy
The bill would require the slaughterer to pay $2 to the Agricultural
Extension Service and $3 to the Texas and Southwestern Cattle
Raisers Association (TSCRA) for each horse slaughtered. This
estimate assumes that fees paid to the Extension Service would
be deposited in local funds outside the State Treasury. It
is further assumed that fee revenue would be sufficient for
the Extension Service to recover all costs to develop curriculum,
produce videos, and pay for travel printing and supplies.
According to the Extension Service, between 55,000 and 70,000
horses are slaughtered annually. Assuming 70,000 horses are
slaughtered next year the Extension Service would receive $140,000
in local funds under the bill. The TSCRA would receive $210,000
under the bill.
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 Higher Higher Education
Education Funds Funds - Outside
- Outside Treasury Treasury
OUTSIDE OUTSIDE
1998 ($140,000) $140,000
1998 (140,000) 140,000
2000 (140,000) 140,000
2001 (140,000) 140,000
2002 (140,000) 140,000
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 significant fiscal implication to units of local government
is anticipated.
Source: Agencies: 407 Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education
555 Texas Agricultural Extension Service
LBB Staff: JK ,BB ,JH