LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE 75th Regular Session May 16, 1997 TO: Honorable Fred Hill, Chair IN RE: Senate Bill No. 371, Committee Report 2nd House, Substituted Committee on Urban Affairs By: Armbrister House Austin, Texas FROM: John Keel, Director In response to your request for a Fiscal Note on SB371 ( Relating to the continuation and functions of the Texas Commission on Fire Protection.) this office has detemined the following: Biennial Net Impact to General Revenue Funds by SB371-Committee Report 2nd House, Substituted FN Revision 1 Implementing the provisions of the bill would result in a net positive impact of $60,000 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 continues the agency for 12 years; adds public members to the Commission on Fire Protection; removes the Commission's responsibility to perform Key Rate inspections; combines the paid and volunteer fire fighter certification program; strengthens the Commission's rulemaking ability; sets the date for the next Sunset review as September 1, 2009; and makes statutory modifications recommended by the Sunset Advisory Commission. Methodolgy The bill would eliminate the Key Rate Schedule; this is consistent with the General Appropriation bill as introduced. Eliminating the employment requirement for recertification of paid fire fighters would result in an annual increase in application and issuance of 1,500 fire fighting certificates at $20 each, providing additional revenue of $30,000 each year of the biennium. It is estimated that, decreasing the cap of certain renewal fees from $500 to $250 would affect approximately 11 licensees, providing a decrease to GR-Dedicated (036) of $2,750 per year. 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 Gain/(Loss) from Gain/(Loss) from General Revenue Texas Department Fund of Insurance Operating Account/ GR-Dedicated 0001 0036 1998 $30,000 ($2,750) 1998 30,000 (2,750) 2000 30,000 (2,750) 2001 30,000 (2,750) 2002 30,000 (2,750) 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 $30,000 1999 30,000 2000 30,000 2001 30,000 2002 30,000 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: 411 Commission on Fire Protection 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts 116 Sunset Advisory Commission LBB Staff: JK ,TL ,AM