LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE
75th Regular Session

March 24, 1997
To:
Honorable Bill Ratliff, Chair
Committee on Finance
Senate
Austin, Texas




IN RE:  Senate Bill No. 31
              By:  Ratliff


From:  John Keel, Director
   
In response to your request for a Fiscal Note on SB31 (relating 
to the powers and duties of 
agencies in the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of 
state government, including 
authorizations for and restrictions on the use of state funds and 
the compensation of employees 
and contractors.) this office has determined the following:

Biennial Net Impact to General Revenue Funds by SB31-As Introduced
Implementing the provisions of the bill would result in a net positive 
impact of $532,000 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 enact into general law, provisions currently 
contained in Article IX of the 
General Appropriations Act relating to: payroll and other 
personnel related matters, 
limitations on the use of appropriated funds, agency reporting 
requirements, equal 
opportunity provisions, and other state policies currently 
established through the General 
Appropriations Act.

The bill would also amend the Travel Regulations Act to update 
commonly used travel 
related terms and provide general and special provisions relating 
to travel expenses of state 
officers and employees.  

The bill would allow a state agency to pay or reimburse a state 
employee for a cancellation 
charge incurred
when that expense was paid in advance to obtain lower rates and 
the employee was unable to 
use the
transportation due to illness, personal emergency, or a natural 
disaster or other nature 
occurrence. 

The bill would take effect September 1, 1997.
 
 
Methodology
 
The bill would give agencies the ability to reimburse employees 
for unused tickets 
purchased to obtain lower rates.

Other than the provisions relating to reimbursing employees for 
cancellation charges, the 
provisions of the bill enact current state policy, as established 
in Article IX of the General 
Appropriations Act, and would have no significant fiscal 
implications. 

 
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 
Savings/(Cost) 
from General 
Revenue Fund
Probable 
Savings/(Cost) 
from
 Other Funds

0001
8042
1998
$266,000
$89,000
1999
266,000
89,000
2000
266,000
89,000
2001
266,000
89,000
2002
266,000
89,000
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 Positive/(Negative) 
Impact to General Revenue Related 
Funds
1998
$266,000
1999
266,000
 2000
266,000
2001
266,000
2002
266,000

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: 
 LBB Staff: JK, RR, KO