LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                              Austin, Texas
                                     
                    FISCAL NOTE, 76th Regular Session
  
                                May 4, 1999
  
  
          TO:  Honorable J.E. "Buster" Brown, Chair, Senate Committee on
               Natural Resources
  
        FROM:  John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
  
       IN RE:  HB 2631 by Turner, Sylvester (Relating to a grant program
               for agricultural projects in certain public school
               districts.), As Engrossed
  
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*  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.                                                             *
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Fiscal Analysis

The bill creates a grant program at the Texas Department of Agriculture
(TDA) to be used by schools in large urban school districts for the
purpose of establishing demonstration agriculture projects.  In addition
to other requirements to be eligible for a grant, a school must be
located in a school district that has an enrollment of at least 49,000
students, except that if more than $25,000 is appropriated for the
purpose of the bill, a school is eligible if it is located in a school
district with an enrollment of at least 45,000 students.  A grant may not
exceed $2,500.  TDA may not award a grant to more that one school within
the same school district in a school year.  TDA may solicit and accept
gifts, grants, and other donations from any source to carry out the grant
program.

Methodology

The bill would cost the TDA $25,000 per year for a total biennial cost of
$50,000.
  
Local Government Impact
  
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is
anticipated.
  
  
Source Agencies:   551   Department of Agriculture
LBB Staff:         JK, DE, TT