LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                                   Austin, Texas
         
                                   FISCAL NOTE
                               75th Regular Session
         
                                  May 28, 1997
         
         
      TO: Honorable James E. "Pete" Laney            IN RE:  House Bill No. 2909, As Passed 2nd House
          Speaker of the House                Carter
          House of Representatives
          Austin, Texas
         
         
         
         
         FROM:  John Keel, Director    
         
In response to your request for a Fiscal Note on HB2909 ( Relating 
to persons eligible for a license to carry a concealed  handgun, 
to  the rights and  duties of  license holders, and to certain 
offenses involving weapons.) this office has detemined the following:
         
         Biennial Net Impact to General Revenue Funds by HB2909-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 require that the Department of Public Safety 
(DPS) establish procedures for reciprocal agreements with other 
states to honor concealed handgun permits.

The bill would 
also require the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) 
to determine if certain permit and license holders derive a 
majority of their gross receipts from the sale of alcoholic 
beverages.  Each business so designated would have to display 
a sign regarding the legality of carrying concealed handguns 
on its premises.

The bill would also amend the Penal Code 
and Government Code by authorizing, under specified circumstances, 
community supervision and corrections officers and parole officers 
to carry a weapon while engaged in the discharge of duties.
 
Methodolgy
 
DPS would be required to coordinate with other states regarding 
concealed handgun permits.  In addition, DPS would need to process 
out-of-state applications and make programming changes to the 
concealed handgun database to accommodate these applications. 
 Although there would be added responsibility, it is assumed 
that the new responsibility could be fulfilled with current 
resources.

TABC would have to make a determination on an 
estimated 15,000 permits with a 10 percent audit rate. The cost 
of this responsibility would be offset by an equal amount of 
fee 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 Revenue   Probable Revenue   Change in Number   
            Gain/(Loss) from   Gain/(Loss) from   of State                                                
            General Revenue    General Revenue    Employees from                                          
            Fund               Fund               FY 1997                                                 
            0001               0001                                                                        
       1998        ($324,100)          $324,100               4.0                                    
       1998         (276,100)           276,100               4.0                                    
       2000         (276,100)           276,100               4.0                                    
       2001         (276,100)           276,100               4.0                                    
       2002         (276,100)           276,100               4.0                                    
 
 
         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.
          
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government 
is anticipated.
          
   Source:            Agencies:   
                                         
                      LBB Staff:   JK ,CB ,RT