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