LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
FISCAL NOTE, 77th Regular Session
February 12, 2001
TO: Honorable Tom Ramsay, Chair, House Committee on County
Affairs
FROM: John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE: HB957 by Burnam (Relating to fees for food service
establishment permits.), As Introduced
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* No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated. *
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Local Government Impact
The bill would amend the Health and Safety Code to allow county or public
health districts to charge up to $300 for health permits and permit
renewals for establishments and businesses that sell food. The Act would
take effect on September 1, 2001.
Current law places a cap of $150 or the highest fee charged by a
municipality in the county or public health district, whichever is less,
for the fees that a county or public health district may charge for
permits and permit renewal. According to information gathered from the
Texas Association of Local Health Officials through a survey of ten
member districts or counties, on average, health districts issue or renew
610 permits per year (much higher in large and highly populated areas
and much lower in small and thinly populated areas). The fees currently
charged by the districts and counties surveyed average $140 per permit,
with some districts and counties charging as low as $45, while others
charge up to $300.
The increased cap amount would provide a revenue increase for those
health districts and counties that are currently charging less than
$300, should they choose to increase the fee charged. Based on the
current average permit cost, the increase would be at least $160 per
permit, totaling an increase of $97,600 for the average 610 permits or
renewals issued.
Source Agencies: 501 Texas Department of Health
LBB Staff: JK, DB