LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
FISCAL NOTE
75th Regular Session
April 21, 1997
TO: Honorable Ron Wilson, Chair IN RE: House Bill No. 2493
Committee on Licensing & Administrative Procedures By: Maxey
House
Austin, Texas
FROM: John Keel, Director
In response to your request for a Fiscal Note on HB2493 ( Relating
to accessibility by persons with mobility impairments to buildings
leased by or built for the state.) this office has detemined
the following:
Biennial Net Impact to General Revenue Funds by HB2493-As Introduced
Implementing the provisions of the bill would result in a net
negative impact of $(80,598) 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
This bill would require an increase in the number of parking
spaces reserved for persons with mobility impairments to 20
percent of available spaces (10 percent visitor, 10 percent
employee) for buildings and facilities related to state health
agencies and the Texas Workforce Commission. Other state agencies
would be required to increase parking reserved for persons with
mobility impairments to 10 percent. The bill requires the cancellation
of any lease where the facility is not in compliance 60 days
after the inspection report to the lessor of the facility.
According to the General Services Commission, bidders would
be required to make corrections to deficiencies found by inspections
prior to the lease being signed.
Methodolgy
The General Services Commission has indicated that the bill
would result in additional lease compliance workload for its
Leasing division. To manage this workload, the commission would
need to add an additional planner for the leasing division,
plus associated expenses, with the total cost ($40,000 per year)
paid out of the general revenue fund. The Department of Licensing
and Regulation (TDLR) would be responsible for performing on-site
inspections of buildings and facilities to be leased by the
state for compliance before the lease is signed. The requirement
of inspections before a lease is signed would increase the inspection
workload for the department. TDLR would require an additional
FTE as support staff to process the additional inspections as
well as increased travel costs for additional inspections throughout
the state. TDLR would also set fees sufficient to offset the
inspection costs related to this bill.
The General Services
Commission has expressed a concern with regard to the impact
the bill would have on leasing costs experienced by state agencies.
Based on discussions with current lessors, the commission believes
that the bill's requirements regarding parking space allocations
for the mobility impaired would significantly increase the cost
of leased space to the state, by as much as fifty percent or
more. The risk associated with complying with parking space
requirements, according to the commission, would increase the
value of bids submitted by potential lessors.
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 Change in Number
Savings/(Cost) Gain/(Loss) from of State
from General General Revenue Employees from
Revenue Fund Fund FY 1997
0001 0001
1998 ($81,650) $41,351 2.0
1998 (78,150) 37,851 2.0
2000 (78,150) 37,851 2.0
2001 (78,150) 37,851 2.0
2002 (78,150) 37,851 2.0
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 ($40,299)
1999 (40,299)
2000 (40,299)
2001 (40,299)
2002 (40,299)
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: 303 General Services Commission
452 Department of Licensing and Regulation
LBB Staff: TH ,RA ,RN