LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE, 76th Regular Session March 17, 1999 TO: Honorable Tom Haywood, Chair, Senate Committee on Agriculture FROM: John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE: SB631 by Duncan (Relating to modifications of the official cotton growers' boll weevil eradication program.), As Introduced ************************************************************************** * No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated. * ************************************************************************** Fiscal Analysis The bill provides the Commissioner of the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) with authority to audit or inspect the financial records of the Texas Boll Weevil Eradication Foundation (TBWEF) whenever deemed necessary. The bill also allows the commissioner to develop a compliance program for the collection of assessments owed by producers in active zones to finance boll weevil eradication efforts. The bill would require that the TDA adopt rules and administer a quarantine program for boll weevil or pink bollworm control to prevent infestation of eradicated areas. Methodology TDA estimates that 100 inspectors of the department statewide would conduct enforcement investigations 10% of the time for 4 months per year, which would equate to 3.3 FTEs. It was also estimated that there would be a need for 0.5 FTEs to process enforcement actions and a need to purchase three vehicles in fiscal year 2000 to facilitate travel for enforcement purposes as required by the bill. Although the TDA would need to develop a communication system with the TBWEF to ensure timely reporting of payment of growers, there would be no significant technological impact on the TDA as a result of the bill. Total costs for the program would come from appropriated receipts and would include approximately $221,000 in fiscal year 2000 and $154,300 for fiscal years 2001, 2002, 2003, and 2004; and would include a need for an additional four FTEs (which would be above the existing TDA FTE cap). TDA indicated that the costs of these programs would be reimbursed by the TBWEF, with the resulting net cost to the state being $0.00. Local Government Impact No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated. Source Agencies: LBB Staff: JK, DE, TT