LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE, 77th Regular Session February 12, 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.), As Introduced ************************************************************************** * No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated. * ************************************************************************** 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 or use any other legal or equitable remedy 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 or is the defendant in other legal actions to require the office be established, 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