LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                              Austin, Texas
                                     
                    FISCAL NOTE, 76th Regular Session
  
                              March 26, 1999
  
  
          TO:  Honorable J.E. "Buster" Brown, Chair, Senate Committee on
               Natural Resources
  
        FROM:  John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
  
       IN RE:  SB631 by Duncan (relating to modifications to the boll
               weevil eradication program), Committee Report 1st House,
               Substituted
  
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*  No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.        *
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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 would allow the TBWEF to develop a compliance program for the
collection of assessments owed by producers in active zones to finance
boll weevil eradication efforts.  Also, the bill would allow the
Commissioner of the Texas Department of Agriculture to establish
provisions that would define the various roles of producers, cotton
ginners, and cotton buyers as they relate to the timely collection of
assessments.  The TBWEF will issue compliance certificates to growers
when their assessment is paid.

The bill allows for an incentive for producers to pay assessments before
they are due by giving the Commissioner the authority to establish
penalties and interest against growers who pay assessments after a
prescribed time period.

Methodology

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.
According to the TDA, the TBWEF would absorb the cost of implementing
this program.
  
Local Government Impact
  
No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
  
  
Source Agencies:   
LBB Staff:         JK, DE, TT