LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                                   Austin, Texas
         
                                   FISCAL NOTE
                               75th Regular Session
         
                                  March 18, 1997
         
         
      TO: Honorable Steven Wolens, Chair            IN RE:  Senate Bill No. 495, As Engrossed
          Committee on State Affairs                              By: Armbrister
          House
          Austin, Texas
         
         
         
         
         FROM:  John Keel, Director    
         
In response to your request for a Fiscal Note on SB495 ( Relating 
to travel expenses incurred by state officers and employees.) 
this office has detemined the following:
         
         Biennial Net Impact to General Revenue Funds by SB495-As Engrossed
         
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
 
This bill would 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 also allow for a reduction in the scope of the 
travel regulations in the General  Appropriations Act.

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 
establish statutory procedures regarding the payment of mileage, 
meals lodging, and transportation expenses related to state 
travel.

The bill would take effect September 1, 1997.
 
Methodolgy
 
The bill would implement the Texas Performance Review (TPR) 
recommendation CG22 in Disturbing the Peace:  The Challenge 
of Change in Texas Government, by giving agencies the ability 
to reimburse employees for unused tickets purchased to obtain 
lower rates. 

The bill also addresses the TPR recommendation 
CG10 in Disturbing the Peace: The Challenge of Change in Texas 
Government, by allowing the Comptroller to require the use of 
electronic travel vouchers.  Currently, state agencies must 
file travel vouchers on paper forms and include certain travel 
receipts.  

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           
            Savings/(Cost)     Savings/(Cost)                                                             
            from General       from Other Funds                                                           
            Revenue Fund                                                                                  
            0001               8042                                                                        
       1998          $266,000           $89,000                                                      
       1998           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 Postive/(Negative)
                               General Revenue Related Funds
                                             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:   304   Comptroller of Public Accounts
                                         
                      LBB Staff:   JK ,JD ,KO