LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                              Austin, Texas
                                     
                    FISCAL NOTE, 76th Regular Session
  
                              April 1, 1999
  
  
          TO:  Honorable David Swinford, Chair, House Committee on
               Agriculture & Livestock
  
        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), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted
  
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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.                                                             *
**************************************************************************
  
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.  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.  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:   
LBB Staff:         JK, DE, TT