LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                              Austin, Texas
                                     
                    FISCAL NOTE, 77th Regular Session
  
                              March 23, 2001
  
  
          TO:  Honorable Fred M. Bosse, Chair, House Committee on Civil
               Practices
  
        FROM:  John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
  
       IN RE:  HB350  by Wise (Relating to authorizing county residents
               to file legal action to ensure that a veterans county
               service office is maintained as separate and distinct
               from other county offices.), Committee Report 1st House,
               Substituted
  
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*  No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.                    *
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Local Government Impact
  
The bill would allow a resident of a county with a population of more
than 200,000 in which no veterans county service office exists as a
separate and distinct office from other county offices to bring a writ of
mandamus to require the commissioners court to establish such office.
The bill would take effect September 1, 2001.

Current law requires a county with a population of 200,000 or more to
maintain and operate a veterans county service office separate and
distinct from other county offices.

The Texas Association of Counties polled six counties in which a veterans
county service office exists to obtain costs for operations.

If a county that is required to maintain and operate a veterans county
service office that is separate and distinct from other county offices
does not fulfill the statutory requirement and is served a writ of
mandamus the county would incur the costs of legal expenses. Legal
expenses would vary and could be significant. Additionally, should the
county, as a result of the legal action, fulfill its statutory duties,
the costs for maintaining the office could cost an average of $16,685
per year (based on poll of six counties), depending on the size of the
county. Initial implementation costs for office space, equipment,
furniture, utilities, and office supplies would vary by county, but is
expected to be minimal.
  
  
Source Agencies:   
LBB Staff:         JK, TB, DB