LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                              Austin, Texas
                                     
                    FISCAL NOTE, 76th Regular Session
  
                              April 19, 1999
  
  
          TO:  Honorable Frank Madla, Chair, Senate Committee on
               Intergovernmental Relations
  
        FROM:  John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
  
       IN RE:  HB 1138  by Thompson (Relating to a branch office of a
               county clerk.), As Engrossed
  
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*  No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.                    *
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TECHNOLOGY IMPACT

A county permitting the recording of instruments or documents at a branch
office could incur technology-related costs, if additional equipment and
staff would be needed to allow for the electronic recording of
instruments and documents.
  
Local Government Impact
  
A county which would choose to operate branch offices for purposes other
than issuing marriage licenses could incur increased costs associated
with salaries, benefits, rent or purchase of space, maintenance costs and
other operating expenses. The cost would depend on the type of services
provided by a branch office and the number of new employees hired to work
at the branch office. A county permitting the recording of instruments
or documents at a branch office could incur technology-related costs, if
additional equipment and staff would be needed to allow for the
electronic recording of instruments and documents.

There also could be some cost associated with transporting files to the
county seat on a daily basis. The cost would depend on the distance of
the branch office from the county seat.
  
  
Source Agencies:   
LBB Staff:         JK, TL