LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                              Austin, Texas
                                     
                    FISCAL NOTE, 76th Regular Session
  
                              April 28, 1999
  
  
          TO:  Honorable Steven Wolens, Chair, House Committee on State
               Affairs
  
        FROM:  John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
  
       IN RE:  SB138 by Sibley (relating to government restrictions on
               the exercise of religion), Committee Report 2nd House,
               Substituted
  
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*  No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.        *
**************************************************************************
  
The bill would waive sovereign immunity for governmental entities in some
cases where exercise of religious freedom is at issue.
  
Local Government Impact
  
The cost to local government would depend on the number of cases filed
under the proposed legislation, given the waiver of sovereign immunity.
However, since the bill would limit compensatory damages and deny
claimants exemplary damages, potential fiscal impact should not be
significant.
  
  
Source Agencies:   302   Office Of The Attorney General
LBB Staff:         JK, BB, SD, PE