LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                              Austin, Texas
                                     
                    FISCAL NOTE, 76th Regular Session
  
                                May 7, 1999
  
  
          TO:  Honorable J.E. "Buster" Brown, Chair, Senate Committee on
               Natural Resources
  
        FROM:  John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
  
       IN RE:  HB 2599  by McReynolds (relating to prescribed burning),
               Committee Report 2nd House, as amended
  
**************************************************************************
*  No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.        *
*                                                                        *
*  The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal      *
*  basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of    *
*  the bill.                                                             *
**************************************************************************
  
Technology Impact

A database would need to be created to report and maintain information on
certifications for prescribed burn managers, but should not require
additional funding.

Fiscal Analysis

The bill would establish the Prescribed Burning Board, established within
the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA), and describes the landowner's
right to conduct burns on a landowner's property.  The appointed board
members must be trained and certified.  The board would establish an
advisory board of members of the public to include at least: property
owners; agriculture forestry and livestock producers; conservation
interests; environmental interests; and insurance interests.

Methodology

A Memorandum of Understanding would need to be created between the TDA
and the agencies represented on the Prescribed Burning Board for
coordination of the duties described in the bill.

A database would be created to record certification information and
continuing education credits for prescribed burn managers.  The
designated agency (or agencies) responsible for training would send TDA
verification that the prescribed burn manager has been certified.  Using
attendance rosters from continuing education classes, random audits
would be conducted to verify continuing education credits.
  
Local Government Impact
  
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is
anticipated.
  
  
Source Agencies:   551   Department of Agriculture, 555   Agricultural
                   Extension Service Texas, 556   Agricultural
                   Experiment Station Texas, 576   Texas Forest
                   Service, 582   Natural Resource Conservation
                   Commission, 592   Soil and Water Conservation Board,
                   802   Parks and Wildlife Department
LBB Staff:         JK, DE, TT