LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                              Austin, Texas
                                     
                    FISCAL NOTE, 77th Regular Session
  
                              March 16, 2001
  
  
          TO:  Honorable Bob Turner, Chair, House Committee on Public
               Safety
  
        FROM:  John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
  
       IN RE:  HB195  by Najera (Relating to the collection of
               information identifying persons who are suspected or
               convicted of committing certain property offenses
               against elderly individuals.), As Introduced
  
**************************************************************************
*  Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for    *
*  HB195, As Introduced:  negative impact of $(818,561) through the      *
*  biennium ending August 31, 2003.                                      *
*                                                                        *
*  The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal      *
*  basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of    *
*  the bill.                                                             *
**************************************************************************
  
General Revenue-Related Funds, Five-Year Impact:
  
          ****************************************************
          *  Fiscal Year  Probable Net Positive/(Negative)   *
          *               Impact to General Revenue Related  *
          *                             Funds                *
          *       2002                           $(510,125)  *
          *       2003                            (308,436)  *
          *       2004                            (308,436)  *
          *       2005                            (308,436)  *
          *       2006                            (308,436)  *
          ****************************************************
  
All Funds, Five-Year Impact:
  
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*Fiscal    Probable Savings/(Cost) from     Change in Number of State     *
* Year         General Revenue Fund           Employees from FY 2001      *
*                      0001                                               *
*  2002                        $(510,125)                             6.0 *
*  2003                         (308,436)                             6.0 *
*  2004                         (308,436)                             6.0 *
*  2005                         (308,436)                             6.0 *
*  2006                         (308,436)                             6.0 *
***************************************************************************
  
Technology Impact
  
Implementing provisions of this bill would require the creation of a new
database through the use of contract programmers according to the
Department of Public Safety (DPS).  Additional hardware purchases would
be required to house the database.  Maintaining the database and
disseminating information from the database would require the addition
of three computer technology personnel to the staff of DPS.
  
  
Fiscal Analysis
  
The bill would require DPS to establish and maintain a state-wide central
repository for information collected on persons suspected of or
convicted of committing certain property offenses against elderly
individuals.

The bill would take effect September 1, 2001.
  
  
Methodology
  
DPS estimates that the creation of the database will require 1,464 hours
of contract programming at $120 per hour for a total cost of $175,680.
Hardware purchases to house the database would total $13,106.

DPS estimates that it will need six additional Full Time Equivalents
(FTEs) to comply with the provisions of this bill.  Three of the FTEs
would be computer technology personnel (Database Administrator,
Programmer Analyst, and Network Support Specialist) who would be
responsible for the design, creation and maintainence of the database and
the network environment on which it will reside.  The other three FTEs,
consisting of a Research Specialist and two Record Technicians, would be
responsible for processing calls from law enforcement agencies for the
submission of information or for requests of information from the
database, and for quality control of data entry and records management.

Total salaries for these employees would be $215,442 per year with an
additional $60,927 for employee benefits.  Other costs, including
travel, rent, and operating expenses, would total $32,067 per year.
  
  
Local Government Impact
  
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is
anticipated.
  
  
Source Agencies:   405   Texas Department of Public Safety
LBB Staff:         JK, JC, DG