LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                                   Austin, Texas
         
                                   FISCAL NOTE
                               75th Regular Session
         
                                  April 15, 1997
         
         
      TO: Honorable Kenneth Armbrister, Chair            IN RE:  Senate Bill No. 1598
          Committee on State Affairs                              By: Ellis
          Senate
          Austin, Texas
         
         
         
         
         FROM:  John Keel, Director    
         
In response to your request for a Fiscal Note on SB1598 ( Relating 
to the use of suitable state property for community gardens 
and farmers markets for the benefit of low-income and needy 
families.) this office has detemined the following:
         
         Biennial Net Impact to General Revenue Funds by SB1598-As Introduced
         
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
         

         
 
Fiscal Analysis

The bill would establish the Community Nutrition 
Task Force to coordinate and implement a community food production 
and farmers market program using underutilized state land for 
the benefit of low income families.  The task force would be 
composed of representatives of the following agencies: Department 
of Agriculture, Agricultural Extension Service, Department of 
Criminal Justice, Texas Education Agency, General Land Office, 
Department of Health, and the Texas Youth Commission along with 
three representatives from nonprofit organizations that work 
with low income communities or with farmers to increase food 
security.  

The bill would require the General Land Office 
to identify suitable state owned property for the establishment 
of community food gardens and to execute any leases or other 
land transactions for these purposes.  Each member of the task 
force would be required to provide resources, information, and 
staff support to work with community groups and organizations 
to develop and implement a community food garden plan and to 
teach youth and adults in communities near the gardens the basics 
of gardening, nutrition, and how that knowledge benefits health 
and economic security.  

Food grown in the gardens would 
be directed to local food banks, local families at risk for 
hunger, or sold through a farmers market if the area is not 
already served by one.  The Youth Commission and the Department 
of Criminal Justice would be required to participate in the 
program by encouraging the use of gardens at residential or 
correctional facilities with the food being used by the facilities 
or donated to local food banks.  

The Agricultural Extension 
Service would be required to periodically provide information 
about the task force's program.  The task force would be required 
to report to the Legislature each year regarding results from 
their efforts.

Methodology

According to the General Land 
Office, the Department of Health, and the Texas Education Agency, 
there would be no fiscal impact due to their participation in 
the program.  

According to the Department of Criminal Justice, 
there would be increased costs related to security for participants 
in the program, but these costs may or may not be significant 
depending on the size of the program and the location of participating 
units.  According to the department, there would also be a need 
to coordinate with an existing food bank program called "Texas 
Fresh Approach".  According to the Youth Commission, an additional 
staff and travel costs would be needed as a program coordinator 
and task force member.  These costs are estimated at $36,096.

The 
Agricultural Extension Service estimates that implementing the 
bill's provisions could require up to 15 additional FTEs and 
cost up to $350,000 per year, depending on the state property 
available through the General Land Office, the number of community 
gardens, and participants and farmer's markets established. 
 

According to the Department of Agriculture, the estimated 
cost to implement the provisions in the bill is $5,128 each 
year.  These estimated costs are related to staff time, supplies, 
and telephone charges.

This analysis assumes that any increase 
in workload could be absorbed within current agency resources.
          
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government 
is anticipated.
          
   Source:            Agencies:   694   Youth Commission
                                         551   Department of Agriculture
                                         501   Department of Health
                                         701   Texas Education Agency - Administration
                                         696   Department of Criminal Justice
                                         305   General Land Office and Veterans' Land Board
                                         
                      LBB Staff:   JK ,JD ,JH