LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                              Austin, Texas
                                     
                    FISCAL NOTE, 76th Regular Session
  
                              March 20, 1999
  
  
          TO:  Honorable David Swinford, Chair, House Committee on
               Agriculture & Livestock
  
        FROM:  John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
  
       IN RE:  HB2 by Swinford (Relating to agricultural policy,
               assistance, and opportunities.), As Introduced
  
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*  No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.        *
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Fiscal Analysis

The bill would amend the Agriculture Code to add provisions concerning
state agricultural policy.

The bill would require: the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) to
conduct a study of the agriculture industry in Texas, the Texas
Department of Economic Development (TDED) to conduct a study of the
textile industry in Texas; and each to prepare a strategic plan and
recommendations to promote its development, and submit a written report
of the study, strategic plan, and recommendations to the governor,
lieutenant governor, and the speaker of the house of representatives by
January 1, 2001.

Each public senior college or university would be required to prepare a
written report of the total amount of money spent by the college or
university for agricultural research in cooperation with private entities
in each of 10 most recent state fiscal years preceding September 1,
2000.  Each college or university would be required to submit their
report to the governor, lieutenant governor, and the speaker of the house
representatives by January 1, 2001.

Methodology

The cost of the study for TDA should be a one time cost of no more than
$50,000 in fiscal year 2000.  The cost of the study for TDED should be a
one time cost of no more than $30,000 in fiscal year 2000.  The Higher
Education Coordinating Board has approximated that with the exception of
Texas A&M University and Texas Tech University, the cost of such a
required report for each college or university will be less than $1,000.

  
Local Government Impact
  
No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
  
  
Source Agencies:   
LBB Staff:         JK, DE, MF, TT